Abstract: A messaging system uses the standard email subject line to control where a message gets delivered, when a message gets delivered and the appearance of a message when it gets delivered. This enables a company to use its standard intranet email system as a pseudo real-time messaging transport with a range of delivery options. Several codes control the features of the alerting message, and a predefined escape sequence for use by the sender is recognizable by a dedicated server. This escape sequence enables these codes. By placing the escape sequence in a predetermined location in each message, the sender indicates to the system that codes for controlling the features of the alerting message follow the escape sequence. Using these codes, the user can then specify when, how often and in what manner the alert message is displayed to the recipient in a window on the recipient's workstation. In addition, the sender can certain aspects of message routing and delivery using these codes.

Abstract: A laptop has an integrated telephone, in which the telephone and mouse unit are arranged in a manner that allows the mouse to be adjusted to either side of the laptop computer to accommodate either a left-handed or right-handed person. A telephone is tightly integrated into the body of a laptop PC creating a much more natural and ergonomic physical interface between the phone and the computer. The resulting device includes a mounting for the mouse module, allowing ease of use by both right-handed and left-handed users. The laptop computer includes a recessed storage area for the small telephone handset. The storage area is located in the area just below the keyboard, i.e., the area where the user's wrists usually lie. The telephone handset and associated cable reside in the tray. The mouse module slides along a guide way in the tray, and can be positioned on either side of the guide tray/telephone handset storage tray. The benefits of the above tight integration of the laptop PC and the telephone are many.

Abstract: A method for improved thinning or skeletonizing handwritten characters or other variable-line-width images. The method scans a template set over the image to be thinned. Each template has a specific arrangement of dark and light pixels. At least one of those templates includes either more than three pixels per row or more than three rows of pixels. An odd number is good choice. Moreover, the templates are chosen so that each template can unconditionally delete image pixels without consideration of the effect of such deletions on the behavior of the other templates. Thus the templates are independent of each other.