| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080201645 | Method and Apparatus for Deploying Portlets in Portal Pages Based on Social Networking - A Portal Page Customizer (PPC) provides a tagging component and a portal page generator that enables a user to quickly display portlets most preferred by a community of portlet users. Each tag is associated with one or more portlet. A user can add new descriptive tags to portlets using tools on the portal page. When a user selects a tag from a tag cloud, the PPC displays portlets associated with the selected tag. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080242265 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING DYNAMIC PRESENCE INFORMATION AS COLLECTED BY A MOBILE DEVICE - A system and method for detecting proximity of at least one outside party to a multi-party communication includes steps of: receiving presence information of the at least one outside party, wherein the presence information comprises sensor data received from at least one sensor indicating that the outside party is in proximity to a second party; analyzing the sensor data to determine its threat level; and transmitting a signal to the first party, the signal indicating that at least one outside party is in proximity to the second party. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080256189 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE DISPLAY OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION AND FOR MANAGING VISUAL CLUTTER IN A LIVE SESSION DISPLAY AREA SYSTEM - A system for clearing content displayed in the live session display area of an instant messaging system. The system enables a session participant to clear the content currently visible to each other participant in the session, either immediately, or in response to a criteria such as elapsed time or elapsed time since active in the session. The content that is cleared from the live session display area is not permanently lost, but is only temporarily hidden from the live session display area. The system further enables a local participant to recall such temporarily hidden content back into the live session display area. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080256190 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING THE LOGGING OF SESSION TRANSCRIPTS TO LOG FILES IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM - A mechanism for controlling the saving of an instant messaging session transcript to a log file. The system includes a session locking feature that allows a participant (e.g. the session initiator) to lock the entire contents of a session transcript saved into a log file. The system further includes a message locking features that allows a participant to selectively lock a specified portion the contents of the session transcript saved to a log file. The locking participant is able to indicate which other participants can unlock the content in the session transcript stored in the log file that they have locked, and those specified other participants are accordingly sent the necessary key to unlock such locked content. The system further allows users to subsequently request locks to unlock content in a session transcript stored in a log file, and for the locking participant to selectively allow or disallow such requests. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080260118 | PRODUCT, METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED VOICEMAIL MANAGEMENT - The invention discloses enhanced voicemail system management through user-defined “access rules” that can be modified by a telephone account owner to provide permission and/or set a time duration for recording a message left by an incoming caller. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080301488 | INTELLIGENT CONFIGURATION FOR RESTARTING FAILED APPLICATION SERVER INSTANCES - An improved solution for intelligent configuration for restarting failed application server instances is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for restarting a failed application server instance includes: receiving a notice of a failure of an application server instance; obtaining a cause of the failure; automatically applying at least one configuration change to the application server instance based on the cause; and recovering the application server instance. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080309484 | Detecting Explosive Mixture Based On Identifying Components of Explosive Mixture Using Molecular Computational Identification - A method, system and computer program product for detecting an explosive mixture. A potentially hazardous material is embedded with molecules where these molecules are used for identifying individual cells. Upon scanning the potentially hazardous material, the embedded molecules give off light or sonar signatures as output. The output of these molecules is read by a reader which is used to identify the type of material as well as the amount of the material. This information is stored and correlated with the passenger carrying the identified material and the passenger's flight information. A security alert is generated if there is a combination of amounts of potentially hazardous materials previously identified with the amount of potentially hazardous material currently identified that together would be classified as an explosive device where these potentially hazardous materials are to be carried by individual(s) on the same flight(s). | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090019118 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERIFYING THE IDENTITY OF A CHAT PARTNER DURING AN INSTANT MESSAGING SESSION - A system for verifying the identity of a chat partner during an instant messaging session. The identity of an instant messaging partner can be verified at any given moment during an instant messaging session. The status of the verification is displayed in the current session, and is contained into any subsequently saved session history file. Prior to the beginning of communication, a participant has the ability to challenge one or more other participants to verify that they are really the people assigned to the corresponding instant messaging identifiers. During the instant messaging session, participants are further allowed to challenge any other participant before going further with the session (e.g. prior to discussing confidential information or accepting files). The system addresses the problem of an unauthorized user gaining access to another user's instant messaging identifier. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090024439 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK TO A CHAIRPERSON IN AN ELECTRONIC MEETING SCHEDULING SYSTEM IN ORDER TO ENABLE IMPROVED MEETING RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - A system for providing feedback to a chairperson in an electronic meeting scheduling system to enable improved meeting resource management, in which a chairperson can indicate the attendance modes that are permitted for specific invitees to a meeting. The meeting invitations indicate to the invitees the attendance modes they are permitted to use. Meeting invitees are presented with user interface options allowing them to select from potentially multiple attendance modes, determined in response to inputs from the chairperson, and/or in response to information describing resources. As meeting resources are allocated to accepting invitees, those resources become unavailable for selection by subsequently accepting invitees. Meeting acceptances are collected such that indications of how accepting attendees will attend the meeting are made available in a chairperson interface so that the chairperson can adjust resources allocated for the meeting to reflect how accepting attendees are planning to attend. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090024932 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING OPEN SESSION BASED SELECTIVE BROADCASTING IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING SYSTEM - A system for providing open session based selective broadcasting in an instant messaging system. The instant messaging system user is provided with a mechanism through which they can broadcast a user-defined message to the participants in all currently open instant messaging sessions with the user, or to the participants in a selected subset of currently open instant messaging sessions with the user. The system provides the ability to capture and save a list of the participants receiving a previously broadcast message. The captured participant list can be subsequently recalled and used to broadcast another user defined message when the interruption ends, and the user can resume participation in the sessions. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090030766 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MEETING PREPAREDNESS - A method and computer program product for facilitating meeting preparedness, including defining one or more requested meeting attendees, and defining one or more requirements for entry to a meeting. An invitation to the meeting is sent to at least a portion of the one or more requested meeting attendees, the invitation including the one or more requirements for entry to the meeting. At least a portion of the one or more requested meeting attendees are required to provide feedback concerning status of the one or more requirements for entry to the meeting prior to the meeting. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090031393 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING EMAIL PROPAGATION - A system and method for controlling the propagation of an email message includes defining at least a first email recipient and a second email recipient of the email message. A first email propagation policy associated with at least the first email recipient is defined, and a second email propagation policy associated with at least the second email recipient is defined. The email message is sent to the first email recipient and to the second email recipient. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090043844 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NAME CONFLICT RESOLUTION - A method of name conflict resolution including analyzing a plurality of relationships of a user. A social network of the user may be defined based upon at least a portion of the plurality of relationships, the social network identifying one or more relationship users. A name conflict may be resolved in a collaborative activity based upon, at least in part, the social network. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090047944 | CELLULAR TELEPHONE SIGNAL MONITORING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A cellular telephone signal monitoring method and system. The method includes receiving and storing by a computing system from a first cellular telephone, a first profile associated with a first user of the first cellular telephone and first monitoring data associated with the first user and the first cellular telephone. The computing system receives and stores from a plurality of cellular telephones, first additional monitoring data associated with a plurality of users and the plurality of cellular telephone. The computing system analyzes the first monitoring data and the first additional monitoring data. The computing system generates a first analysis report based on results of the analyzing. The computing system transmits to the first cellular telephone and the plurality of cellular telephones the first analysis report. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090049131 | TASK ASSIGNMENT AND PROGRESS MONITORING IN AN INSTANT MESSAGING SESSION - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to task management in an instant messenger and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for task assignment and progress monitoring in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of task assignment and progress monitoring in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second collaborators, assigning a task to the second collaborator on request of the first collaborator from within the instant messaging session, the task specifying a third collaborator external to the instant messaging session, and providing subsequent notice to the first collaborator of collaborative interactions between the second and third collaborators in respect to the assigned task. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090049138 | MULTI-MODAL TRANSCRIPT UNIFICATION IN A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to multi-modal chat logging management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for generating a unified chat transcript for a multi-modal conversation in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a unified chat transcript for a multi-modal conversation in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include establishing concurrent voice messaging and text messaging sessions between two conversants, receiving both voice messages and text messages between two conversants through the voice messaging and instant messaging sessions, and logging the voice messages and text messages in a single transcript of conversation between the two conversants. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090049141 | TRACKING DELIVERED E-MAIL - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to return receipt processing for e-mail messages and provide a method, system and computer program product for tracking delivered e-mail messages. In one embodiment of the invention, an e-mail tracking method can be provided. The method can include selecting an e-mail message already sent to a designated recipient, forwarding a status request to the designated recipient to determine a status of the e-mail message already sent to the designated recipient, and receiving in return without the intervention of the designated recipient a return receipt for the e-mail message indicating the status of the e-mail message. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090049142 | CONFIDENTIALITY MANAGEMENT OF E-MAIL USERS IN REDISTRIBUTED E-MAIL MESSAGES - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing e-mail user confidentiality. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing e-mail user confidentiality can be provided. The method can include transmitting an e-mail message for delivery to multiple e-mail users and corresponding e-mail addresses, identifying a privacy preference for a particular one of the e-mail users; and, concealing a display within the e-mail message of an e-mail address associated with the particular one of the e-mail users responsive to the privacy preference. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090055236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING LIKELIHOOD OF MEETING ATTENDANCE - A method and computer program product for evaluating the likelihood of meeting attendance including receiving an acceptance to an invitation to a first meeting for a meeting invitee. A first weighting factor is defined for the meeting invitee based upon, at least in part, an anticipated probability of attendance at the first meeting by the meeting invitee. The first weighting factor is associated with the meeting invitee and the first meeting. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090064339 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUDIT GOVERNANCE IN EMAIL - A system and method, where messages which are exchanged in email, provide recipients (and originators) with the capability to confirm authenticity. A substring of a message is examined, is validated and, if any modifications have been made, the modifications are highlighted to the originator and the receivers so that the originator and the receivers know that the original message has been modified. Also, the system and method of the present invention preserve the time, date and identity of the maker of the modifications. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090070360 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS INVOLVING SOCIAL BOOKMARKING - A method for compiling bookmarks comprising, receiving a session name, receiving a user identifier, the user identifier identifies a user selected to join a group associated with the session name, sending an invitation to join the group to the user, adding the user to the group responsive to receiving an acceptance of the invitation from the user, and starting a session responsive to receiving an the acceptance of the invitation, the session comprising, receiving an Internet Uniform Resource Locator (URL) from the user, receiving a title from the user, wherein the tile is descriptive of the URL, receiving a tag from the user, wherein the tag is a descriptive word associated with the URL, associating the URL, the title, and the tag with the session name and the user identifier, and storing the URL, the title, the tag, and the associated session name and the user identifier in a database. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090075631 | MISSED CALL NOTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT INTERFACE THAT ASSOCIATES AND DISPLAYS IMAGES WITH MISSED CALLS - The present invention discloses a solution where images are associated with missed calls and are presented within a missed called interface. The images can include images contained within a mobile device data store that is associated with the missed call number, such as images that often appear in a display of a mobile phone when a call attempt is made. The images can also include ones that are conveyed by the caller to the called device. A set of configurable interlace options can exist that permits a mobile phone user to establish how a missed call interface should behave when a locally stored image and a caller-provided image both exist and are associated with a missed call. In one implementation, the interface can be associated with voice mail messages, so that images are also associated and presented with received voice mail entries. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090077178 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SEQUENCING OF ELECTRONIC MAIL TO DERIVE A SPECIFIED RESPONSE TRAJECTORY - A method for electronic mail (email) distribution and collaboration, the method includes: composing an email message; designating one or more recipients for the email message; assigning a status to each of the one or more recipients; specifying an order of delivery of the email message to the one or more recipients; specifying a required response time period to the email message by the one or more recipients; and specifying a priority order of responses to the email message by the one or more recipients. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090083827 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CIRCUMVENTING INSTANT MESSAGING DO-NOT-DISTURB - A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining a policy of circumvention rights for circumventing do-not-disturb status in instant messaging. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is identified, and the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is circumvented based upon the policy of circumvention rights. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090090584 | PROVIDING ITEM BAGGING ADVISEMENTS TO BAGGERS - The present invention discloses a solution for providing item bagging advisements to individuals bagging purchased items during a check-out situation. The solution can include a self-checkout system and/or a human assisted checkout system capable of providing bagging assistance. A bagged item can be detected based on information such as weight, barcode data, and the like. Based on a set of rules for preferred item grouping, items can be determined to be appropriately bagged or to be in conflict with another item. Item bagging assistance can include, but is not limited to, item conflict warning, item compatibility confirmation, and assistance based on item categorization. Visual and aural confirmation and/or warning notifications can be presented to a user based on item compatibility or incompatibility. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090091473 | DETERMINING BILLBOARD REFRESH RATE BASED ON TRAFFIC FLOW - The present invention relates to the determining of a refresh rate of a dynamic billboard. A system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: a system for obtaining traffic flow information; a system for determining the refresh rate per minute of the dynamic billboard based on the traffic flow information, wherein the refresh rate is equal to 60 mph/V, wherein V is equal to an average velocity in miles per hour of vehicles passing the dynamic billboard; a system for determining a percent change in the traffic flow information over a predetermined period of time, and comparing the percent change in the traffic flow information to a predetermined threshold value; and a system for changing a display provided by the dynamic bill board in accordance with the refresh rate only if a magnitude of the percent change in the traffic flow information is greater than the predetermined threshold value. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094532 | DYNAMIC MEETING AGENDA GENERATION BASED ON PRESENTER AVAILABILITY - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to C&S e-meeting scheduling and provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic agenda updating in a C&S system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic agenda updating based upon presenter participation in an e-meeting can be provided. The method can include creating a new e-meeting in a collaborative computing environment for attendees and presenters selected from amongst the attendees. The method also can include generating an invite with an agenda for the new e-meeting including a time block and time slots for presentations by different ones of the presenters. Finally, the method can include dynamically changing a view to the agenda for viewing ones of the attendees to reflect changes in the time slots resulting from replies to the invite received by individual ones of the presenters. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094551 | ENHANCEMENTS TO PREVENT SPLIT ENTRIES IN THE EVENT OF A WINDOW FOCUS SHIFT - The present invention discloses a solution to prevent split entries in an event of a window focus shift while still permitting the focus shift event to occur. The solution utilizes a number of different configurable techniques to accomplish this goal, all of which are designed to permit a user to finish directing input to an original window element, when an automatic focus shift event occurs that directs focus to a different window element. Techniques for preventing split entries can include, but are not limited to, a pause-triggered target shifting technique, a pause-triggered focus shifting technique, a password control focus retention technique, a password control focus shift alter technique, an entry continuation blocking after focus shift technique, an entry continuation alert after focus shift technique, and an entry continuation buffering after focus shift technique. The solution is not to be construed limited to these enumerated techniques. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090106667 | DIVIDING A SURFACE OF A SURFACE-BASED COMPUTING DEVICE INTO PRIVATE, USER-SPECIFIC AREAS - The present invention discloses a solution for defining a private user area in a surface based computer. The solution can identify a surface of a surface based computer. At least one private user area can be defined for the surface. A region of the surface can be demarcated for each defined private user area. Input/output for each demarcated private user area can be handed in a manner specific to the private user area, which is different from how input/output is handled for other portions of the surface. In one embodiment, different users can be associated with multiple ones of a set of two or more different private user areas. Each user can concurrently utilize their own private user area as if that private user area was a computing space dedicated to that user. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090113451 | Processing Event Notifications with an Event Sink - Applications generating events, and system facilities generating events, send notifications of the events to a system event sink. The event sink is preferably associated with an operating system, and provides an application programming interface for registering listeners. (In one alternative approach, the event sink operates as a centrally-accessible or network-accessible entity, where it may concurrently interact with more than one client.) Upon receiving a notification of an event, the event sink forwards the notification to any registered listeners. Optionally, filters may be used to specify criteria to be met before a notification is forwarded to the listener. An event does not rely a particular application for displaying the event to an end user. As one example, notification of a newly-arrived e-mail message might be presented in a chat window of an instant messaging client. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090113452 | Processing Event Notifications with an Event Sink - Applications generating events, and system facilities generating events, send notifications of the events to a system event sink. The event sink is preferably associated with an operating system, and provides an application programming interface for registering listeners. (In one alternative approach, the event sink operates as a centrally-accessible or network-accessible entity, where it may concurrently interact with more than one client.) Upon receiving a notification of an event, the event sink forwards the notification to any registered listeners. Optionally, filters may be used to specify criteria to be met before a notification is forwarded to the listener. An event does not rely a particular application for displaying the event to an end user. As one example, notification of a newly-arrived e-mail message might be presented in a chat window of an instant messaging client. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090119372 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING EMAIL WARNINGS - A system and method for providing an email warning including analyzing one or more communication activities of a user. A pattern of communication activity may be defined based upon, at least in part, the analyzed one or more communication activities of the user. An attempted communication activity may be compared to the pattern of communication activity. A notification may be provided to the user if the attempted communication activity is inconsistent with the pattern of communication activity. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090119373 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INSTANT MESSAGING STATUS - A method and computer program product or managing instant messaging status include identifying an instant messaging unavailable status for a user, and identifying a point-in-time collaborative intersection between the user and one or more collaborative users. The instant messaging unavailable status of the user is penetrated to allow instant messaging communications from at least a portion of the one or more collaborative users during the point-in-time collaborative intersection. | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090126010 | USING OBJECT BASED SECURITY FOR CONTROLLING OBJECT SPECIFIC ACTIONS ON A SURFACE BASED COMPUTING DEVICE - The present invention discloses a solution for object level security on a surface based computing device that includes software objects and behavior tokens. The behavior tokens can control an extent that users are able to manipulate the software objects using the surface based computing device. Different levels of control can be established on an object-by-object basis for different users. The extent users are able to manipulate the software objects can also depends upon set of users proximate to the surface based computing device. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090137322 | METHOD FOR STORING DATA ASSOCIATED WITH A VIDEO GAME - A method for storing data associated with a video game is provided. The method includes receiving position data indicative of a position of a wireless input device over a time interval at a video game controller. The method further includes generating a plurality of digital images associated with the video game over the time interval based on the position data, utilizing the video game controller. The method further includes storing a file having the position data and the plurality of digital images in either a central server or the wireless input device, utilizing the video game controller. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090138557 | DELEGATION OF E-MAIL RETURN RECEIPTS - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for e-mail return receipt delegation. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for e-mail return receipt delegation can include composing an e-mail message by a sender of the e-mail message, selecting a return receipt for the e-mail message, specifying a delegate for the return receipt other than the sender, and forwarding the e-mail message to an addressed recipient along with a directive designating the delegate to receive the return receipt when the addressed recipient opens the e-mail message. Alternatively, the method can include receiving an e-mail message from a sender of the e-mail message, opening the e-mail message, identifying a request for a return receipt for the e-mail message, locating a delegate for the return receipt other than the sender, and generating and sending a return receipt to the delegate. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090138559 | E-MAIL MANAGEMENT FOR HIDDEN RECIPIENTS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to e-mail message reply handling and provide a method, system and computer program product for hidden recipient management in e-mail replies. In an embodiment of the invention, a hidden recipients e-mail reply management method can be provided. The method can include composing an e-mail message in a message thread by a composer, identifying and displaying hidden recipients previously blind carbon copied on a progenitor e-mail message for the message thread by the composer, and routing the composed e-mail message to selected ones of the hidden recipients. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090144297 | CONTRIBUTOR CHARACTERISTIC BASED TAG CLOUDS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to the visual display of tags and provide a method, system and computer program product for contributor characteristic based tag clouds. In an embodiment of the invention, a tag cloud generation method can include loading tags for resources in a social bookmarking system, determining a personal characteristic for each of the end users applying the tags to the resources, and rendering a tag cloud for the tags based upon the personal characteristic of the end users and not based upon the frequency of use of the tags alone. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090144366 | INCORPORATING USER EMOTION IN A CHAT TRANSCRIPT - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to chat transcript generation for instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for emotional state transcription for chat sessions. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for emotional state transcription for chat sessions can be provided. The method can include initializing a chat session in an instant messenger, engaging in an audio conversation through the instant messenger, collecting emotion meta-data for the audio conversation and mapping the emotion meta-data to emoticons, and combining a speech recognized form of the audio conversation with the emoticons and text from the chat session into a chat transcript. The method further can include computing a milleau for the chat session from the emotion meta-data and incorporating the milleau for the chat session in the transcript. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090150816 | RETURNING PASSED OBJECTS IN A SURFACE BASED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT USING A VIRTUAL BUNGEE - The present invention discloses a solution for a surface based computing device to return passed objects. That is, software of the surface based computing device can permit software objects appearing within a display of a surface based computing device to be passed among users positioned about the surface based computing device. The surface based computing device can also include software maintaining linkages between passed software objects and return positions defined for each of the passed software objects. Further software can be configured to automatically return at least one of the passed software objects from a current position on the display to an associated return position responsive to an occurrence of a return object event relating to that passed software object. Visual representation of the linkages can be optionally shown on the surface based computing device and the passing objects can be optionally animated. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090156186 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING CONTACTS IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - An improved method, device and computer-readable medium for managing contacts in a mobile communications device are presented. A contact manager receives a telephone call in a mobile communications device and identifies a telephone number associated with the telephone call. If the user attempts to add the number to a contact list, the contact manager consults a contact list policy which is used to determine whether the number is a temporary number. If the telephone number is a temporary number, the telephone number is automatically marked as temporary and automatically assigned a triggering event. The telephone number is automatically removed from the contact list upon an occurrence of the triggering event. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090158150 | RULES-BASED PROFILE SWITCHING IN METAVERSE APPLICATIONS - A method is disclosed for providing gameplay in a metaverse application in which players interact with each other and a virtual world by controlling characters that are represented using avatars specified by avatar profiles. The method comprises providing a player with an ability to specify and maintain more than one avatar profile for a character controlled by the player; and allowing an avatar representation of the character to be switched between the more than one avatar profile during gameplay. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090172100 | DERIVING AND COMMUNICATING ATTENTION SPANS IN COLLABORATIVE APPLICATIONS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to collaborative computing and provide a method, system and computer program product for deriving and communicating attention spans in a collaborative computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, an attention span management method can be provided for a collaborative computing environment. The method can include monitoring computer activity for a collaborator to a collaboration, computing an attention span based upon the monitored computing activity, and generating an alert in the collaboration if the attention span crosses a threshold boundary indicating an unacceptable level of distraction for the collaboration. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172104 | INSTANT MESSENGER SUBSET MANAGEMENT - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant messenger subset management. In an embodiment of the invention, an instant messenger subset management method can be provided. The method can include selecting a set of names for different open chat sessions of an instant messenger, providing a single responsive posting to the selected set, and persisting the set for subsequent processing. Additionally, the method can include annotating the single responsive posting in a chat log to indicate the names in the selected set having received the single responsive posting. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172111 | INSTANT MESSAGING TRANSCRIPT SHARING FOR ADDED PARTICIPANTS TO AN INSTANT MESSAGING SESSION - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant messaging transcript sharing for added participants to an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for instant messaging transcript sharing for added participants to an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include establishing an instant messaging session as between a set of initial parties, aggregating postings from the initial parties into a transcript, adding a new party to the instant messaging session, and sharing at least a portion of the transcript in a transcript view for the new party. Optionally, an ability of the new party to log shared portions of the transcript can be limited or prohibited. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172112 | INSTANT MESSAGING BASED SOCIAL INTRODUCTIONS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant messenger based social introductions. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for instant messaging based social introductions can be provided. The method can include selecting contacts from a buddy list of an instant messenger, retrieving attributes for each of the selected contacts, and generating introduction text for each of the selected contacts. Specifically, the introduction text can introduce a particular one of the selected contacts and can incorporate attributes for the particular one of the contacts. Finally, the method can include instant messaging the introduction text for each of the selected contacts to another of the selected contacts. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172150 | COORDINATED DEEP TAGGING OF MEDIA CONTENT WITH COMMUNITY CHAT POSTINGS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to deep tagging of media content and provide a method, system and computer program product for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for coordinating deep tagging of media content with chat postings can be provided. The method can include monitoring a group chat of participants co-browsing media content, identifying a token in the group chat appearing a threshold number of times within a temporal window, and creating a deep tag in the media content in association with a portion of the media content played back concurrently with the temporal window. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090172574 | LOCATION INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to virtual worlds and provide a method, system and computer program product for deploying and managing an avatar silhouette in a location in a virtual world. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for deploying and managing an avatar silhouette in a location in a virtual world can include creating and inserting a silhouette avatar into one location of a virtual world in correspondence with a primary avatar in a different location in the virtual world, rendering the silhouette avatar recognizable by an avatar in the one location and prohibiting independent movements by the silhouette avatar, and passing a communication directed from the avatar in the one location to the silhouette avatar in the one location along to the primary avatar in the different location. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090177969 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTENDING A RECORDED EVENT IN A METAVERSE APPLICATION - A metaverse system and method for allowing a user to attend a recorded past event in a metaverse application. The metaverse system includes a client computer, a metaverse server, and a time travel engine. The client computer interfaces with the metaverse application. The metaverse server records an event environment of a past event in a metaverse application. The time travel engine serves, in response to a request from a user, a playback of the recorded event environment to the client computer to allow the user to attend and to observe the recorded event environment. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090177977 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GROUP CONTROL IN A METAVERSE APPLICATION - A metaverse system and method for allowing a user to control a group of avatars in a metaverse application. The metaverse system includes a client computer, a metaverse server, and a group link engine. The metaverse server hosts a metaverse application over a network. The client computer interfaces with the metaverse application. The group link engine opens a group link connection. A linked group associated with the group link connection includes at least two linked users. At least one user is designated as a leader of the linked group. The group link engine includes a group link controller to allow the leader to control an action of an avatar of at least one other user. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090180450 | INSERTION OF NULL PACKETS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF INTERFERENCE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS - Mitigation of interference effects in certain wireless communications is accomplished by the disclosed method. A wireless communications device communicates utilizing a protocol which requires hopping from channel to channel within a communications frequency band while transmitting. Operating according to the disclosed method, the device scans the available communications channels and identifies channel(s) experiencing interference from other transmitting devices. When hopping to such identified channels, the device transmits only null packets, thus avoiding the need to re-transmit packets due to interference and mitigating the effects of such interference on the communications data rate. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090187364 | AUTHENTICATION OF PHARMACEUTICALS USING MOLECULAR COMPUTATIONAL IDENTIFICATION - A method, apparatus and computer program product for authenticating a pharmaceutical product is provided. The method includes receiving an identifier and a quantity for the pharmaceutical product and receiving a photonic signal from the pharmaceutical product, wherein the photonic signal includes a frequency and amplitude. The method can further include searching for the identifier and quantity that was received in a predefined list comprising identifier-quantity pairs, wherein a frequency and amplitude corresponds to each identifier-quantity pair. The method can further include matching the identifier and quantity that was received to a first identifier-quantity pair in the list. The method can further include storing a record indicating that the pharmaceutical product is counterfeit if the frequency and amplitude of the photonic signal does not match the frequency and amplitude corresponding to the first identifier-quantity pair. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090204898 | MANAGEMENT OF RECORDED DATA FOR ONLINE SIMULATIONS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to online simulations. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing recorded data for an online simulation can be provided. The method can include determining that a first experience of a user of the online simulation shall be recorded. The method can further include generating a recording of the first experience and associating metadata with the recording. The method can further include reading metadata of a second experience of the user of the online simulation and determining that the metadata of the second experience matches the metadata of the first experience. The method can further include notifying the user that the recording is associated with the second experience. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090205049 | SECTION BASED SECURITY FOR A SECTIONED SURFACE-BASED COMPUTING DEVICE - The present invention discloses a method, a computer program product, a system, and a device for securing content of a surface-based computing device. In the invention, a delineated region of a surface of a surface-based computing device referred to as a section can be identified. The section can be a computing space owned by at least one user referred to as a section owner. Other regions of the surface exist that are computing spaces distinct from the section. A set of section specific settings can be established that are configurable by the section owner. An attempt to convey at least one software object across a section boundary separating the section from one of the other regions can be identified. The section specific settings can be applied to the attempt. Appropriate programmatic actions can be taken based upon the section specific settings. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090210213 | SELECTING A LANGUAGE ENCODING OF A STATIC COMMUNICATION IN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE - A static communication can be presented efficiently in different languages to facilitate propagation of the static communication across language boundaries. A static communication object that represents a static communication can be loaded with different language encodings of the static communication. When a trigger occurs (e.g., an avatar accesses the static communication object), a language encoding of the static communication that can be understood by the avatar is presented to the avatar. As the static communication propagates throughout the virtual universe, additional language encodings can be added to the static communication object. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090241071 | Served ads as previews and summaries - When an appropriate context-sensitive ad is created for readers of a content page, it can also serve as a summary of page. In this context, the content indicates anything triggering a user's experience that may be used to decide what ad to show. This could be a particular web site, an application on user's computer, a virtual world, or even a physical location. An embodiment of this invention provides a method to serve the ads previously given on a page or other content to a user, at a time other than when the user is actually consuming that content. This Ads-as-a-summary concept can take various forms. It can also be leveraged at various times, such as a preview. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090249432 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CIRCUMVENTING INSTANT MESSAGING DO-NOT-DISTURB - A method and computer program product for defining one or more authorized users capable of granting do-not-disturb circumvention privileges, and receiving an indicator of a grant of do-not-disturb circumvention privileges to a circumventing user by the one or more authorized users. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is circumvented based upon, at least in part, the grant of do-not-disturb circumvention privileges. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090254358 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING REAL WORLD SOCIAL NETWORKING THROUGH VIRTUAL WORLD APPLICATIONS - A method and system for enhancing a virtual world application to facilitate social networking between users are disclosed. The system detects a trigger condition within the virtual world application, and in response to detecting the trigger condition, searches one or more real world social networking application relationship databases for real world social network relationships between a first user of the virtual world application and at least one other user of the virtual world application. Based on the results of the searching performed on the social networking application relationship databases, the disclosed system displays alerts containing real world social network information describing real world social networks connecting the first user and one or more other users of the virtual world application that were detected by the searching. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090265431 | ENDORSING E-MAIL MESSAGES USING SOCIAL NETWORK VERIFICATION - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for e-mail message endorsement in an e-mail management system. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for e-mail message endorsement in an e-mail management system can be provided. The method can include comparing a sender and a recipient of an e-mail message in a social network to identify linking relationships between the sender and the recipient, scoring the e-mail message based upon the identified linking relationships, and visually distinguishing the e-mail message based upon the scoring. In one aspect of the embodiment, the method further can include repeating the comparing to identify new linking relationships, updating the scoring based upon the identified new linking relationships, and updating the visual distinction of the e-mail message based upon the updated scoring. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090276498 | SPECIFYING DURING MEETING ESTABLISHMENT WHEN RESPONDENTS ARE TO BE PROMPTED FOR ATTENDANCE INTENTIONS - A meeting initialization request for a meeting can be identified. The meeting initialization request can specify a prompt time for attendance intentions. A programmatic trigger, referred to as a prompt trigger, can be established for the prompt time. A firing of this prompt trigger can occur when a current time equals the prompt time. At this time, at least one potential attendee for the meeting can be determined. A set of potential attendees is typically defined by the meeting initiator within the meeting initialization request. An intention message can be sent to the determined potential attendee responsive to a firing of the programmatic trigger. This intention message can be sent at a time close to the prompt time. The intention message can prompt the potential attendee to indicate whether the potential attendee intends to attend the meeting. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090276703 | PROFILE-BASED HELP FOR METAVERSE APPLICATIONS - A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for enabling enhanced help or guidance that is tailored to a user and is available on a multitude of “levels” and in a variety of ways. A user is enabled to create a user profile by inputting information about his or her personal interests, i.e. what they plan or hope to do in a virtual world application and possibly how the application can best meet the individual's needs. Users are enabled to specify interests using a form, free-form text, or other means of input. Based on the user input specifications, and depending upon user activity while in the metaverse application, information will be provided about users, places, and events that may be useful to the user in accomplishing the individual user's objectives. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090282109 | Method to Invite Users to a Virtual World Using Instant Messaging - A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for initiating a session in a virtual world. An instant messaging system (IMS) comprises a registry of IMS user identifiers cross-referenced to their corresponding virtual world user identifiers. A first IMS user implements a virtual world invitation module as a result of an IMS session to invite a second IMS user to participate in a virtual world session. The first IMS user selects the IMS user identifier of the second IMS user, followed by selection of a target virtual world and a virtual world identifier. Once completed, the invitation is sent the IMS user identifier of the second IMS user, who receives the invitation and signifies their acceptance or declination. If accepted, the cross-referenced virtual world user identifiers of the first and second IMS users are used to log them into the agreed-upon virtual world venue and initiate a virtual world session. | 11-12-2009 |
| 20090287707 | Method to Manage Inventory Using Degree of Separation Metrics - A method for shared management of a virtual avatar's inventory using degrees of separation metrics. The user wishing to share his inventory associates other users with indicia representing the degrees of separation between the user creating the associations and the other users. The user associates the degree of separation indicia with a policy that defines the other users' allowed actions in shared management of the inventory. | 11-19-2009 |
| 20090298585 | ENHANCEMENT FOR A VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER TO ALLOW PRIVATE INTERACTION WITH THE USER - The present invention can allow for private interactions with game players on a single game console. The present invention can include a game controller enhancement to include a private screen, which can display information to each player that should be private. The game controller enhancement can also include private audio support, which can allow the player to hookup an audio device, such as a headset, to receive audio only intended for the user. These enhanced game controllers can be used with supported game software. In some embodiments, the game controllers can have multiple modes of input. The game controller can include a toggle mechanism to switch between modes. One mode can allow the game controller controls to be sent to the game console. Another mode can allow the game controller control over (I/O control) to what is being privately shown to the user. In some embodiments, a toggle mechanism can be omitted and game software can switch the input modes appropriately. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090299725 | DEEP TAG CLOUD ASSOCIATED WITH STREAMING MEDIA - In some embodiments, a method for providing access to media segments using a tag cloud comprises receiving a request to play streaming media, identifying deep tags associated with the streaming media, and determining preferences of a user based on information provided by the user. The method can also comprise selecting a group of the deep tags based on the information provided by the user and displaying the group of the deep tags in a tag cloud, wherein the deep tags hyperlink to segments within the streaming media. The method can also include presenting, in response to activation of a deep tag in the group, one of the segments within the streaming media. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090300112 | Effective Communication in Virtual Worlds - A method, computer program product and computer system for establishing an effective communication between two users in a virtual world, which includes measuring a communication capability for each of the users, and establishing a communication using a default type of communication, if a difference between the communication capabilities of the two users is not above a pre-determined threshold. The method, computer program product and computer system can further establish a communication using an alternate type of communication, if a difference is above the pre-determined threshold. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20100005480 | METHOD FOR VIRTUAL WORLD EVENT NOTIFICATION - The present disclosure a method for providing virtual world event notification. A method for providing virtual world event notification may include receiving information regarding a virtual world event, receiving a user profile, determining if the virtual world event would be of interest to a particular user based upon the user profile, and inviting a user to the virtual world event based upon the user profile through a user's calendar application. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100011000 | MANAGING THE CREATION, DETECTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF SENSITIVE INFORMATION - A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product for managing information within an electronic file are provided. A plurality of information sets within an electronic file is analyzed. At least one of the information sets is compared to at least one statistical classification model. The statistical classification model includes one or more probabilities associated with a plurality of analyzed information sets that indicate a likelihood that a respective analyzed information set is classified sensitive information. The at least one information set is determined to substantially match at least one analyzed information set in the statistical classification model. The probability associated with the at least one analyzed information set is determined whether to be above a threshold. The at least one information set is classified as sensitive information in response to determining that the probability is above the threshold. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20100023476 | LOCATION/EVENT BASED DICTIONARIES TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD LOCATION - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to jargon usage in a location in a virtual world and provide a method, system and computer program product for location and event based dictionaries to facilitate communication in location in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for communication facilitation in a location within the virtual world can include identifying jargon in a message exchanged in a location in a virtual world, looking up a glossary entry for the jargon in a dictionary of jargon for the location in the virtual world, and rendering the glossary entry in connection with the jargon in the message. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100023877 | CONVERSATION DETECTION IN A VIRTUAL WORLD - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to virtual world management and provide a method, data processing system and computer program product for conversation detection in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for conversation management in a virtual world data processing system can include detecting a sequence of statements from at least two avatars in a virtual world, and locating the avatars in the virtual world, computing a temporal proximity of the statements. The statements can be grouped in the virtual world if the avatars are geographically proximate to one another in the virtual world and if the statements have occurred within a threshold temporal proximity of one another. Thereafter, the grouped statements can be persisted in the virtual world as a conversation. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100030691 | DURING AN E-COMMERCE TRANSACTION SENDING A POSTAL PACKAGE TO A RECIPIENT BASED UPON A RECIPIENTS EMAIL ADDRESS - An e-commerce transaction can be identified that includes at least one item to be shipped to a postal address of a recipient. A user interface involved in the e-commerce transaction can prompt for an email address. An email address can be received as an address for the recipient. A postal address can be programmatically determining by querying a data store using the email address as a recipient identifier. A shipment of the at least one item can be initiated to the determined postal address. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100036823 | PROVIDING LOCATION BASED INFORMATION IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - A method, information processing system, and virtual environment, provide location information to users in the virtual environment. A first user is determined to be communicating with a second user in a virtual environment. One of the first user and the second user is determined to have entered a character set substantially matching a keyword in a database entry. Location information associated with the keyword is identified. The location information indicates a location within the virtual environment. The location information is linked to the character set. The character set is visually changed to indicate to the first user and the second user that location information has been linked to the character set. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100042648 | ORDERING CONTENT IN SOCIAL NETWORKING APPLICATIONS - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for ordering content in social networking applications are described. A plurality of shared content pieces are received, that are viewable and accessible by at least one viewer. The shared content pieces are displayed in an initial order, wherein the displayed shared content pieces are accessed in a viewer order determined by an individual viewer. The viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer are received and stored in a data store, and the initial order is changed based at least in part upon at least one of the viewer order and the identity of the individual viewer, thereby providing an adjusted order. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100064010 | ENCOURAGING USER ATTENTION DURING PRESENTATION SESSIONS THROUGH INTERACTIVE PARTICIPATION ARTIFACTS - A presentation session can be identified in which at least one participant of the presentation session is associated with a computing device. A participation artifact can be conveyed to one or more participants. The participation artifact can be configured to solicit a response from a participant and to ensure that each artifact receiving participant is paying attention. The response can result from interactions between the associated participant and the computing device. The interactions can be specific to the participation artifact and can be responsive to a receipt of the participation artifact. A response to the participation artifact can be received from each participant receiving a participation artifact. The received response can be processed to assess an attention level of each participant receiving a participation artifact. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100070860 | ANIMATED CLOUD TAGS DERIVED FROM DEEP TAGGING - A tagging engine can analyze deep tag data associated with a portion of media and process the tagging data into a deep tag cloud. Tag clouds can contain snapshot information about a particular media stream segment. Tag clouds for the entire duration or portions of the media stream can be aggregated. Aggregated tag clouds can be processed and compiled into a slideshow form. The tag clouds in the slideshow can be animated and presented to summarize media that includes the deep tags from which the tag clouds were derived. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100076951 | SERVICE FOR NEGOTIATING A MEETING LOCATION GIVEN MULTIPLE USER PREFERENCES AND LOCATIONS USING SOCIAL NETWORKING - A computer-implemented method for providing a meeting location recommendation comprises receiving user preferences specifying types of recommendations to be provided, including defining which types of user ratings of services from a social networking service to consider, wherein at least a portion of the services being rated have respective service locations; receiving a meeting location recommendation request, including a list of participants; initiating a request to the social networking service to retrieve a subset of the user ratings based at least in part on the user preferences of the participants; and returning to the participants a list of the services and corresponding service locations specified in the subset of the user ratings to enable the participants to negotiate one of the service locations to serve as an agreed to meeting location. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100100595 | SELECTIVE PUBLICATION OF E-MAIL ACCOUNT ACCESS FREQUENCY - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to e-mail account management and provide a method, system and computer program product for selective publication of e-mail account access frequency. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for selective publication of e-mail account access frequency can be provided. The method can include determining access frequency data for different e-mail accounts of a first e-mail user in a messaging data processing system, receiving a request from a second e-mail user in the messaging data processing system for the access frequency data, applying publication rules for the first e-mail user to the second e-mail user to determine whether or not to publish the access frequency data to the second e-mail user, and publishing at least part of the access frequency data to the second e-mail user if permitted by the application of the publication rules. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100100820 | USER SPECIFIC MUSIC IN VIRTUAL WORLDS - A computer-implemented method of providing user specific music for a virtual world environment can include, responsive to an input from a user, associating an event with a music source, wherein the event involves an avatar representing the user within a virtual world executing on a virtual world server and storing, within a client of the user, an association between the event and the music source. The client can monitor a virtual world session, within which the user is represented by the avatar, for the occurrence of the event, and responsive to the client detecting the event, outputting, from the client, audio played from the music source associated with the detected event, wherein the music source is played without involvement of the virtual world server. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100122049 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING AN ELECTRONIC STORAGE VOLUME - A system and method for managing an electronic storage volume is described. The method includes assigning a threshold to a constrained storage space to define a first state in which an amount of data stored in the constrained storage space exceeds the threshold and a second state in which the amount of data stored in the confined storage space does not exceed the threshold. The method also includes comparing the amount of data to be stored in the constrained storage space and the threshold, and performing a predefined action if the comparison indicates that the amount data to be in the confined storage space would cause a transition between the first state and the second state. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100125494 | ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE SHIPPING SELECTION - Methods, devices and systems are provided for enabling the selection of a shipping option responsive to an environmental preference. A user indicates a shipping criteria preference including an environmental impact weighting. A cost value of each of a plurality of shipping options is determined including an environmental impact cost. A shipping options is selected and implemented for a shipping of an item as a function of the indicated environmental impact weighting. Each of the plurality of shipping option cost values may be dynamically recalculated and the status of at least one of the shipping options updated, the updating determining a change in value a shipping option cost value, an implemented selected shipping option changed to another of the plurality of shipping options as a function of the status updating. | 05-20-2010 |
| 20100131343 | System and Method for Segmenting Items in a Shopping Cart by Carbon Footprint - A method implemented in a computer infrastructure having computer executable code tangibly embodied on a computer readable medium being operable to provide a shopping cart for a shopper, and segment items in the shopping cart based on the carbon footprint associated with each item. Additionally, the method may include displaying substitute or complementary items in the shopping cart for selection by the user to reduce total carbon values, and awarding carbon certificates. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100169431 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CIRCUMVENTING INSTANT MESSAGING DO-NOT-DISTURB - A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining requesting, from one or more do not disturb circumvention mediators, do-not-disturb status circumvention of an instant messaging user. Circumvention permission for the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is received. The do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user is circumvented based upon, at least in part, the circumvention permission. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100169438 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CIRCUMVENTING INSTANT MESSAGING DO-NOT-DISTURB - A system and method for circumventing a do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user including defining a trusted user. A do-not-disturb status of an instant messaging user is identified. The trusted user is allowed to circumvent the do-not-disturb status of the instant messaging user. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100174617 | GESTURE EXCHANGE VIA COMMUNICATIONS IN VIRTUAL WORLD APPLICATIONS - A method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for exchanging gestures in a virtual world application. In one embodiment, the virtual world application determines whether a first avatar has a gesture exchange function enabled. If so, the virtual world application displays words communicated by a first user to a second user during the communication session and identifies a keyword among the communicated words corresponding to a gesture in a user inventory of the first avatar. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100175002 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RATING EXCHANGEABLE GESTURES VIA COMMUNICATIONS IN VIRTUAL WORLD APPLICATIONS - A method, system and computer-readable medium are disclosed for rating exchangeable gestures in a virtual world application. The method includes making a gesture owned by a first user of the virtual world application available to a second user of the virtual world application; in response to the second user providing a rating of the gesture, storing the rating in a repository of the first user, determining a rating metric of the gesture using at least the rating received from the second user, and communicating the rating metric to a third user of the virtual world application. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100205545 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STANDARDIZED VISUAL INDICATORS IN ELECTRONIC MEDIA - Methods and systems for associating a standardized electronic icon with a user and displaying the icon with electronic communications of the user are disclosed. A computer implemented method includes: determining one or more icons to associate with an individual when the individual creates an electronic message; and at least one of selectively and automatically appending at least one of the one or more icons that are associated with the individual to the electronic message. The at least one of the one or more icons is subsequently displayed with the electronic message to a recipient to provide information about the individual to the recipient. | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100217631 | CONSERVATION MODELING ENGINE FRAMEWORK - Methods, including service methods, articles of manufacture, systems, articles and programmable devices provide a conservation modeling engine framework. Programmable conservation modeling engines in communication with different customizable resource conservation modules, each resource conservation module customized to a distinct resource, select one of the modules customized to a resource identified for conservation, and user-defined criteria as a function of the identified resource and the selected module. Input data is selected and collected as a function of the resource identified and the selected module and used to weight the input data. Different optimized conservation plans are created as a function of the weighted input data and the selected module, each of the optimized conservation plans displayed having a different implementation cost, a different time for implementation and a different total amount of the identified resource saved. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100217644 | Electronic Calendar Auto Event Resolution System and Method - A system and method for event resolution. The method includes determining whether a post-scheduled event or a pre-scheduled event conflicts with a scheduled event. The method further includes extracting details of the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event and automatically populating a response with at least some of the extracted details. The method further includes sending the response with an accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event does not conflict with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a cancel indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event, or sending the response with a tentatively accept indication when the post-scheduled event or the pre-scheduled event conflicts with the scheduled event. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100268780 | Situational Application Creation Based on Observed User Behavior - A system and method of creating a situational application provides for identifying content from a plurality of sources, where the content is associated with a user's interaction with the plurality of sources. Data associated with the identified content is gathered, and a situational application is generated based on the gathered data. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110113382 | ACTIVITY TRIGGERED PHOTOGRAPHY IN METAVERSE APPLICATIONS - A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110153746 | SYNCHRONIZING SHARED FILES DURING COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for synchronizing copies of a shared file used by different communication session participants is presented. A shared file that is used by a first communication session participant and a second communication session participant is identified. The first and second communication participants each use a separate copy of the shared file. In response to detecting a communication session between the first and second communication session participants, the separate copies of the shared file are automatically synchronized. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110161430 | INSTANT MESSAGING BASED VIRTUAL FILE SYSTEM - An instant messaging system generates an instant messaging application user interface display object enabling the user to select one or more buddies, or a predefined group from their buddy list, and then to select a file to share with the selected buddies or group. The instant messaging system then controls sharing of the file within the selected buddies or group, by allowing only one of the sharing users to check out and modify the shared document at a given time. The instant messaging system user interface displayed to each user also displays the list of files that are shared with that user. The instant messaging system user interface further provides a current status for each shared file, including an indication of one of the sharing users that currently has the shared file checked out. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161449 | INSTANT MESSAGING BASED VIRTUAL FILE SYSTEM - An instant messaging system generates an instant messaging application user interface display object enabling the user to select one or more buddies, or a predefined group from their buddy list, and then to select a file to share with the selected buddies or group. The instant messaging system then controls sharing of the file within the selected buddies or group, by allowing only one of the sharing users to check out and modify the shared document at a given time. The instant messaging system user interface displayed to each user also displays the list of files that are shared with that user. The instant messaging system user interface further provides a current status for each shared file, including an indication of one of the sharing users that currently has the shared file checked out. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161487 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATION SESSIONS - A method and computer program product includes calculating a score for one or more communication sessions on a communication device, associating the score with the one or more communication sessions, and measuring a performance metric on the communication device. The performance metric may be indicative of a load on the communication device, and may be caused, at least in part, by the one or more communication sessions. If the performance metric on the communication device falls outside an acceptable value, a number of participants in at least one of the one or more communication sessions may be reduced based on the score associated with the at least one of the one or more communication sessions. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161816 | MANAGEMENT OF RECORDED DATA FOR ONLINE SIMULATIONS - Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to online simulations. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing recorded data for an online simulation can be provided. The method can include determining that a first experience of a user of the online simulation shall be recorded. The method can further include generating a recording of the first experience and associating metadata with the recording. The method can further include reading metadata of a second experience of the user of the online simulation and determining that the metadata of the second experience matches the metadata of the first experience. The method can further include notifying the user that the recording is associated with the second experience. | 06-30-2011 |
