Abstract: A voice-activated user interface for an application is described. The voice activated user interface invokes a speech recognition component to recognize audio input from a user. If the audio input is a command, then a validation component is invoked to determine whether to validate the command prior to execution.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling users at a plurality of client computers to share a common browsing experience are provided. A server computer according to the invention includes an interface to a communications network for establishing a first link between the server and the host client computer and a second link between the server and the slave client computer. The server has a shared view engine for receiving from the host client computer, an identifier that identifies the slave client computer and a locator corresponding to content on the server. The shared view engine causes the server to deliver the content corresponding to the locator to both the host client computer and the slave client computer. Thus, the host client computer and the slave client computer are enabled to share browsing of the content received from the server. To enable the slave clients to share in the browsing experience, the host client can send information such as URL and cookie data to the slave clients.

Abstract: A system and computer-readable media for providing access to emergency data. Emergency data is collected from various sources and maintained such that it can be efficiently recalled in an emergency. In one implementation, the data is maintained in XML documents. An emergency application program provides a page and/or sub-pages via which a user interacts to obtain the data. The data is typed according to types of emergencies to facilitate user access to the appropriate data when needed. The emergency data may be automatically loaded from a remote source, such as a .NET service, or provided by a retailer. Actions may be associated with emergency data, such as to provide an easy or automated way to send an alert, email message, and the like in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for initiating configuration of a modem connected to a mobile device. The system and method provide a mechanism for guiding a user through the setup process in order to simplify the user's connectivity to a network using the modem. In one embodiment, the mechanism monitors for when a modem is connected to the mobile device. When a modem is connected for the first time, the mobile device launches a wizard utility that directs the user's configuration of the connected modem. The user is able to choose from performing an initial configuration of the modem, or migrating settings of a previously connected modem to establish the connected modem's settings. Thus, the user is guided through the configuration process, increasing the discoverability of the modem and simplifying its setup for the user.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for providing timed profile changes to a mobile device. The mobile device initiates a timed profile change in response to the user or an event associated with the mobile device. The mobile device monitors the profile period and provides a user with information regarding the length of the profile period remaining, as well as other information. When the period of the selected timed profile expires, the mobile device returns to a previous profile associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system is provided for allowing designers, who are primarily concerned with the look and feel of the program, to modify the dialogs in an application being developed without having to rely on the developers to generate executable code in each iteration. Intelligent defaults for parameters that are either not specified in a resource definition or governed by a common style specification are provided to facilitate switching from one dialog element to another without requiring that all of the parameters be specified again.

Abstract: A sending system, which includes one or more computer systems including a sending computer system, sends, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system. A receiving system, which includes one or more computer systems including a receiving computer system, receives the data indicative of an intent to send the object. In some embodiments, the receiving system may analyze the data indicative of an intent to send the object and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to receive the object. The receiving system sends data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system. The sending system may receive the data indicative of an intent to receive the object, may analyze the data, and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to send the object.

Abstract: A notification component that is shared between all applications that provides notifications to users without interrupting the task that the user is working and allows users to manage the notifications from one location. The user can globally set preferences as to how the notifications should be rendered. These preferences include enabling or disabling notification classifications, which rendering type they want to use for each notification classification, and priority of notifications within each notification classification. The notification component allows the user to indicate what notifications the user want to sees and how the notifications are rendered. Rendering types include audio, visual, and pager styles. An application uses an application programming interface to send notification using schema based or text based notifications. The system parses the notification and provides the user the notification through notification classifications in accordance with the user preferences.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for efficient development of software application programs with user interfaces. Customarily, several specialists, including designers and developers, cooperate during the development stage of an application program. The invention teaches a strategy for making resource files external to the other compiled executable files in an application such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. Furthermore, the external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the look and feel for an application's interface without having to depend on developers to implement changes in the interface.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and system for developing a software application program with user interfaces that make resource files external to the other compiled executable files such that the information from the resource file may be obtained at runtime as needed without the need for compilation. The external resource file may be edited at runtime to allow designers to modify the application's interface without having to depend on developers implement changes in the interface. This is achieved by providing resources in a markup language and routines that locate and parse the markup language text on the fly as an application executes. Compartmentalization of the effort in developing and porting an application is facilitated for protection of source code and better management of designers and developers working on different aspects of a software application due to the externalization of the resource files needed primarily by the designers.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for providing timed profile changes to a mobile device. The mobile device initiates a timed profile change in response to the user or an event associated with the mobile device. The mobile device monitors the profile period and provides a user with information regarding the length of the profile period remaining, as well as other information. When the period of the selected timed profile expires, the mobile device returns to a previous profile associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to emergency data. Emergency data is collected from various sources and maintained such that it can be efficiently recalled in an emergency. In one implementation, the data is maintained in XML documents. An emergency application program provides a page and/or sub-pages via which a user interacts to obtain the data. The data is typed according to types of emergencies to facilitate user access to the appropriate data when needed. The emergency data may be automatically loaded from a remote source, such as a .NET service, or provided by a retailer. Actions may be associated with emergency data, such as to provide an easy or automated way to send an alert, email message, and the like in the event of an emergency.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for providing timed profile changes to a mobile device. The mobile device initiates a timed profile change in response to the user or an event associated with the mobile device. The mobile device monitors the profile period and provides a user with information regarding the length of the profile period remaining, as well as other information. When the period of the selected timed profile expires, the mobile device returns to a previous profile associated with the mobile device.

Abstract: Described is a method and system for initiating configuration of a modem connected to a mobile device. The system and method provide a mechanism for guiding a user through the setup process in order to simplify the user's connectivity to a network using the modem. In one embodiment, the mechanism monitors for when a modem is connected to the mobile device. When a modem is connected for the first time, the mobile device launches a wizard utility that directs the user's configuration of the connected modem. The user is able to choose from performing an initial configuration of the modem, or migrating settings of a previously connected modem to establish the connected modem's settings. Thus, the user is guided through the configuration process, increasing the discoverability of the modem and simplifying its setup for the user.

Abstract: Methods and systems for building context-based user interfaces are provided. According to the present invention, a contextual engine residing on a host computer system provides a user interface based on a predefined set of user interface (UI) elements that are selected on the basis of a set of prescribed conditions being satisfied. The computer system includes a data store having a plurality of contexts, wherein each context is defined by a set of prescribed conditions and is associated with a predefined set of UI elements. The contextual engine determines, for each context, whether the set of prescribed conditions that defines the context is satisfied, and, if so, provides a user interface based on the predefined set of UI elements associated with the context. The contextual engine provides the user interface by identifying for an application program residing on the host computer system, the predefined set of UI elements associated with the context.

Abstract: Elements of a graphical user interface that are switchably translucent and opaque are disclosed. In one embodiment, such an element is initially set to a default, first mode in which the element is translucent when the pointer is not positioned over the element. When the pointer has been moved such that it is positioned over the element, the element becomes opaque. Various heuristics are also disclosed that are applicable to the opaque-to-translucent and the translucent-to-opaque transformations. For example, when the pointer is moved over the element, there may be a delay prior to the element becoming opaque. As another example, when the pointer remains over the element for a predetermined amount of time, the element may revert back to translucency from opacity.

Abstract: A sending system, which includes one or more computer systems including a sending computer system, sends, via a predetermined transport, data indicative of an intent to send an object from the sending computer system. A receiving system, which includes one or more computer systems including a receiving computer system, receives the data indicative of an intent to send the object. In some embodiments, the receiving system may analyze the data indicative of an intent to send the object and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to receive the object. The receiving system sends data indicative of an intent to receive the object at the receiving computer system. The sending system may receive the data indicative of an intent to receive the object, may analyze the data, and select an appropriate transfer mechanism to send the object.

Abstract: A computer system is connected to an infrastructure from among a number of infrastructures. For example, a mobile computer system may be connected to a corporate intranet or a home network. The computer system receives one or more parameters that are provided by the infrastructure. The received parameters may include a network address and a subnet mask. The received parameters are combined to generate an identifier that is representative of an environment the computer system will operate in. Generating an identifier may include combining a network address and a subnet mask to determine a network location. Based on the identifier, characteristics associated with the environment the computer system will operate in are selected. The selected characteristics may facilitate changing the configuration of the computer system to operate in the environment represented by the identifier.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing user interfaces that include content selected based on when the user interface is being provided are disclosed. A temporal engine residing on a host computer system provides a user interface that includes content selected based on when the user interface is being provided. The computer system includes a data store having one or more predefined time periods, each of which is defined, at least in part, by a span of time or by a set of conditions being satisfied, and is associated with a predefined set of user interface elements. The temporal engine determines, for each predefined time period, whether the set of conditions that defines the time period is satisfied. If so, the temporal engine causes a user interface to be provided that is based on the set of user interface elements associated with the time period.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to emergency data. Emergency data is collected from various sources and maintained such that it can be efficiently recalled in an emergency. In one implementation, the data is maintained in XML documents. An emergency application program provides a page and/or sub-pages via which a user interacts to obtain the data. The data is typed according to types of emergencies to facilitate user access to the appropriate data when needed. The emergency data may be automatically loaded from a remote source, such as a .NET service, or provided by a retailer. Actions may be associated with emergency data, such as to provide an easy or automated way to send an alert, email message, and the like in the event of an emergency.