Abstract: The presentation of headers for groups of locations in a library comprising a collection of locations is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises receiving a request to organize a library into groups according to a selected property, and organizing the locations into groups such that locations within a selected group have a common value of the selected property. If the common value of the selected property for the selected group corresponds to an object distinct from the locations in the group, then a first type of group header configured to accept a first set of user inputs associated with the header is displayed. Otherwise, a second type of group header configured to accept a second, different set of user inputs is displayed.

Abstract: A file system shell is provided. One aspect of the shell provides virtual folders which expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.). Filters are provided for narrowing down sets of items. Quick links are provided which can be clicked on to generate useful views of the sets of items. Libraries are provided which consist of large groups of usable types of items that can be associated together, along with functions and tools related to the items. A virtual address bar is provided which comprises a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a filter for selecting content. A shell browser is provided with which users can readily identify an item based on the metadata associated with that item.

Abstract: A user interface is configured to identify and display each of the one or more service providers servicing the user's computing system. The interface also identifies the presence information that is being supplied to the service providers by the user's computing system for publication. The presence information that is provided to the service providers can include, but is not limited to, the name, alias, location, and network status of the user. A user can make global or discrete customized changes to the presence information that is provided to each of the service providers through the user interface. Modifications made to the presence information can also be made automatically to reflect a new condition or status in the user's presence on a network that is provided by a service provider.

Abstract: The presentation of headers for groups of locations in a library comprising a collection of locations is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises receiving a request to organize a library into groups according to a selected property, and organizing the locations into groups such that locations within a selected group have a common value of the selected property. If the common value of the selected property for the selected group corresponds to an object distinct from the locations in the group, then a first type of group header configured to accept a first set of user inputs associated with the header is displayed. Otherwise, a second type of group header configured to accept a second, different set of user inputs is displayed.

Abstract: The present example provides a method of displaying by a single click, a view arrangement that may include data displayed by a sorting by a name process, a grouping by a type process, and a stacking by a keywords process.

Abstract: A user interface is configured to identify and display each of the one or more service providers servicing the user's computing system. The interface also identifies the presence information that is being supplied to the service providers by the user's computing system for publication. The presence information that is provided to the service providers can include, but is not limited to, the name, alias, location, and network status of the user. A user can make global or discrete customized changes to the presence information that is provided to each of the service providers through the user interface. Modifications made to the presence information can also be made automatically to reflect a new condition or status in the user's presence on a network that is provided by a service provider.

Abstract: A user interface is configured to identify and display each of the one or more service providers servicing the user's computing system. The interface also identifies the presence information that is being supplied to the service providers by the user's computing system for publication. The presence information that is provided to the service providers can include, but is not limited to, the name, alias, location, and network status of the user. A user can make global or discrete customized changes to the presence information that is provided to each of the service providers through the user interface. Modifications made to the presence information can also be made automatically to reflect a new condition or status in the user's presence on a network that is provided by a service provider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for improving a user's ability to direct the computer to perform a desired function. A single uniform input control is provided that receives user input, such as from a keyboard. The present embodiment then parses the user input to determine its input type and whether the input type corresponds to a single, recognized action performable by the computer and, if so, performs the action. Such recognized actions include navigating to an Internet site and composing an e-mail message. If the input type does not correspond to a single recognized action, the user input is submitted to at least one text processor, such as a natural language processor, that analyzes the user input to obtain at least one interpretation corresponding to an action performable by the computer. The at least one interpretation is returned to the user who may select a desired action from among the listing of interpretations.