Abstract: A physically-modulated friction stylus system and method for physically modulating friction between a styli tip and a surface of a computing device to emulate the “feel” of different types of writing instruments writing on different types of surfaces (such as pen on paper or a paintbrush on canvas). The actual friction between the stylus and the surface is modulated to produce the “feel.” The friction is physically modulated “on the fly” meaning that friction can be modulated while the stylus tip is in contact with the surface and while the stylus is moving. The friction is modulated dependent on a location of the stylus on the surface and the posture and orientation of the stylus. In addition, the friction can be modulated based on a direction and a velocity that the stylus tip is moving across the surface. Audio may also be used to improve the emulation experience.

Abstract: The recognition of user input to a computing device is enhanced. The user input is either speech, or handwriting data input by the user making screen-contacting gestures, or a combination of one or more prescribed words that are spoken by the user and one or more prescribed screen-contacting gestures that are made by the user, or a combination of one or more prescribed words that are spoken by the user and one or more prescribed non-screen-contacting gestures that are made by the user.

Abstract: An enhanced telephony (ET) computer user interface that seamlessly integrates features of a personal computer (PC) and a telephone into a coherent user interface. The user is provided with a rich variety of functionality that leverages the fact that the PC has considerably more processing power and greater access to variety of data than the ordinary telephone. This processing power and data access is used to the user's advantage as the telephone's capabilities and functionality are greatly expanded. In general, the ET user interface includes a plurality of environments for the user to choose. These environments include a My Contacts environment, a communication preferences environment, and a Call History environment. Each of these environments contains certain available processes and features for controlling and managing telephones.

Abstract: Automatic capturing and recording of data in a single application is provided. The data can be obtained from multiple sources and over a short time or over an extended time. Personalized notations can be annotated with the data to provide a user with more personal information relating to why the particular data was captured and recorded. Selection of the single application can be a function of a type of the data, a user preference, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Described is a technology by which a link to content is visibly augmented to convey information related to a cached status of the linked-to content. In one aspect, a cached versus not cached indication may be provided to convey such cache-related information to a user. Staleness of cached content also may be indicated. Also described is pre-fetching and/or updating cache content, which may be conveyed to the user by the conveyed cache-related status information.

Abstract: The subject disclosure pertains to anonymous network interaction. More specifically, mechanisms are provided to ensure anonymity with respect network interaction such that third parties are unable to determine the source and/or intent of communications. Accordingly, entities may anonymize all outgoing and/or incoming data packets so as to mitigate outside entities from learning about information being sought and/or provided. For example, a user or corporation may employ an anonymizer with respect to web searching so that outside entities are not able to determine what information is attempted to be accessed and by whom.

Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides peripheral awareness of information to a user. Once the information to be provided is determined or specified, it is automatically tracked or watched via at least one conventional communications interface for accessing one or more conventional communications sources. Current information is then automatically dynamically provided in an interactive peripheral display which minimizes any potential distraction to the user. The tickets are sharable among users, and may be copied, cut, pasted, saved, transmitted, dragged and dropped from web pages, etc., like any other electronic file using conventional techniques.

Abstract: Enhanced telephony computer user interfaces seamlessly integrate and leverage the features of personal computers and telephones. The manner in which media is presented at a computing system can also be modified automatically in response to detected telephone operations. These modifications can include pausing media in response to a detected telephone call and/or adjusting a volume of the media presentation. The media presentation/volume can also be resumed/restored upon detecting that the telephone call has terminated.

Abstract: A facility allows for automatic delegation of incoming real-time communications based on a delegation scheme. The delegation scheme may be rules-based and may be applied to a single real-time communication channel or multiple communication channels, including both real-time and non-real-time communication channels. The delegate information may include rules that indicate under what circumstances a communication should be rerouted, which delegate the communication should be rerouted to, and whether other associated actions should be taken in connection with the rerouting (or lack thereof). In some cases, the context of the incoming communication may play a role in how or whether a communication is rerouted to a delegate.

Abstract: The interactive and shared surface technique described herein employs hardware that can project on any surface, capture color video of that surface, and get depth information of and above the surface while preventing visual feedback (also known as video feedback, video echo, or visual echo). The technique provides N-way sharing of a surface using video compositing. It also provides for automatic calibration of hardware components, including calibration of any projector, RGB camera, depth camera and any microphones employed by the technique. The technique provides object manipulation with physical, visual, audio, and hover gestures and interaction between digital objects displayed on the surface and physical objects placed on or above the surface. It can capture and scan the surface in a manner that captures or scans exactly what the user sees, which includes both local and remote objects, drawings, annotations, hands, and so forth.

Abstract: A “Concurrent Projector-Camera” uses an image projection device in combination with one or more cameras to enable various techniques that provide visually flicker-free projection of images or video, while real-time image or video capture is occurring in that same space. The Concurrent Projector-Camera provides this projection in a manner that eliminates video feedback into the real-time image or video capture. More specifically, the Concurrent Projector-Camera dynamically synchronizes a combination of projector lighting (or light-control points) on-state temporal compression in combination with on-state temporal shifting during each image frame projection to open a “capture time slot” for image capture during which no image is being projected. This capture time slot represents a tradeoff between image capture time and decreased brightness of the projected image.

Abstract: A “Contact Discriminator” provides various techniques for differentiating between valid and invalid contacts received from any input methodology by one or more touch-sensitive surfaces of a touch-sensitive computing device. Examples of contacts include single, sequential, concurrent, or simultaneous user finger touches (including gesture type touches), pen or stylus touches or inputs, hover-type inputs, or any combination thereof. The Contact Discriminator then acts on valid contacts (i.e., contacts intended as inputs) while rejecting or ignoring invalid contacts or inputs. Advantageously, the Contact Discriminator is further capable of disabling or ignoring regions of input surfaces, such tablet touch screens, that are expected to receive unintentional contacts, or intentional contacts not intended as inputs, for device or application control purposes.

Abstract: Architecture for completing search queries by using artificial intelligence based schemes to infer search intentions of users. Partial queries are completed dynamically in real time. Additionally, search aliasing can also be employed. Custom tuning can be performed based on at least query inputs in the form of text, graffiti, images, handwriting, voice, audio, and video signals. Natural language processing occurs, along with handwriting recognition and slang recognition. The system includes a classifier that receives a partial query as input, accesses a query database based on contents of the query input, and infers an intended search goal from query information stored on the query database. A query formulation engine receives search information associated with the intended search goal and generates a completed formal query for execution.

Abstract: Members working on the same project can access similar resources at substantially the same time to facilitate active participation in the project. A meeting associated with the project can be given a unique identifier that can allow the project members to access a meeting or other content and view similar documents or other content as it is discussed in the meeting. As information is edited, modified, created, etc. the members can selectively be presented with the information. A common repository can provide the members with an area or platform in which the project material can be accessed, discussed or other functions performed by the project members, allowing for collaboration of the project details.

Abstract: Architecture for completing search queries by using artificial intelligence based schemes to infer search intentions of users. Partial queries are completed dynamically in real time. Additionally, search aliasing can also be employed. Custom tuning can be performed based on at least query inputs in the form of text, graffiti, images, handwriting, voice, audio, and video signals. Natural language processing occurs, along with handwriting recognition and slang recognition. The system includes a classifier that receives a partial query as input, accesses a query database based on contents of the query input, and infers an intended search goal from query information stored on the query database. A query formulation engine receives search information associated with the intended search goal and generates a completed formal query for execution.

Abstract: Architecture for completing search queries by using artificial intelligence based schemes to infer search intentions of users. Partial queries are completed dynamically in real time. Additionally, search aliasing can also be employed. Custom tuning can be performed based on at least query inputs in the form of text, graffiti, images, handwriting, voice, audio, and video signals. Natural language processing occurs, along with handwriting recognition and slang recognition. The system includes a classifier that receives a partial query as input, accesses a query database based on contents of the query input, and infers an intended search goal from query information stored on the query database. A query formulation engine receives search information associated with the intended search goal and generates a completed formal query for execution.

Abstract: A publishing engine captures commercial information associated with a first user and automatically notifies other users in the first user's social network of this commercial information. The first user authorizes an e-commerce system to access his or her social network and to publish commercial information about the first user's commercial activity (e.g., a purchase or other commercial transaction) to users in the social network. By this automated notification, the notified users in the first user's social network can learn that the first user has completed a commercial transaction pertaining to a particular product or service. If a notified user is interested in a similar product or service, he or she can contact the first user to inquire about the first user's experience and information with the product or service.

Abstract: A publishing engine captures capturing commercial events and other information (collectively, “commercial information”) associated with a first user and automatically notifies other users in the social network of the first user of this commercial information. The publishing engine also notifies one or more search engines of these events and information. Based on this commercial information, the search engine can augment search results of the members of the social network to include historical notifications relating to commercial transactions for similar products and/or services by others in their social network. In this manner, for example, the search engine can provide results directing the searcher to other users in their social network who have purchased such products and/or services.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate identifying messages generated on a mobile device while the device is offline as requiring encryption, storing the messages in a message outbox with a flag indicating that encryption is required, and identifying recipients of the flagged messages to generate a recipient list. The recipient list can be piggybacked on a server synchronization request when the mobile device enters a period of online activity, and a server can return public keys associated with identified recipients to permit an encryption component, such as a secure/multipurpose Internet mail extension protocol (S/MIME) encryption component, in the mobile device to encrypt the messages.

Abstract: A method for tagging content. The method includes receiving an initial metadata tag and associating the initial metadata tag with an object of an online repository. Based on the initial metadata tag, a metadata tag knowledgebase is accessed to derive at least one suggested metadata tag. A confirmation regarding the at least one suggested metadata tag is received and the suggested metadata tag is associated with the object. The object is then uploaded to the repository, and the metadata tag knowledgebase is updated to reflect tags associated with the object.