Abstract: A system and method for presenting a group conversation on an electronic device of a user, via displaying, on a graphical user interface of the device, a group of contacts with which the user can communicate, the group of contacts comprising one or more individual contacts and one or more social circles which define a preset collection of contacts associated with one another. User input is received via the graphical user interface, the user input specifying a selection of participants from the group of contacts for a group conversation. The group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the participants. A conversation window is presented on the graphical user interface. The conversation window displays a collection of contact icons with each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of the selected participants of the group conversation, and a conversation thread with the shared communication messages.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for presenting profile information on an electronic device of a user, the profile information being associated with a contact of the user, via displaying a contact icon on a graphical user interface of the electronic device, the contact icon corresponding to a contact of the user; receiving user input which specifies selection of the contact icon; and displaying profile information, obtained from a profile associated with the contact corresponding to the selected contact icon, on the graphical user interface.

Abstract: A system and machine-implemented method for differentiating participants in a group conversation within a graphical user interface of an electronic device of a user, via displaying a collection of contact icons on the graphical user interface, each contact icon respectively corresponding to one of a plurality of participants in a group conversation, wherein the group conversation provides for sharing communication messages among the plurality of participants including the user; determining which of the plurality of participants are currently accessing the group conversation; and differentiating, in the graphical user interface, display of the contact icons corresponding to those participants determined to be currently accessing the group conversation from the remaining contact icons.

Abstract: A pointing device with independently movable portions is described. In an embodiment, a pointing device comprises a base unit and a satellite portion. The base unit is arranged to be located under a palm of a user's hand and be movable over a supporting surface. The satellite portion is arranged to be located under a digit of the user's hand and be independently movable over the supporting surface relative to the base unit. In embodiments, data from at least one sensing device is read, and movement of both the base unit and the independently movable satellite portion of the pointing device is calculated from the data. The movement of the base unit and the satellite portion is analyzed to detect a user gesture.

Abstract: A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.

Abstract: A relative fullness of a fluid container is monitored by directing reference light at a bottom surface of the fluid container. The fluid container is designed so that the amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container varies in relation to the relative fullness of the fluid container. Accordingly, the relative amount or pattern of reference light reflected from the fluid container can be monitored and used to determine the relative fullness of the fluid container.