Abstract: To provide telephony-like interfaces to a computer network, a computer system has a visual display device that continually displays a network status icon indicating network status information. The icon can have segments corresponding to different communications environments, and the icon and the segments will change some characteristic, such as shape, size, or color, to indicate the presence of some network event or the status of some network parameter.

Abstract: A display or other device present in a communications environment in which communication partners are represented by objects and clustered according to a desired characteristic. When a message is received from one of the communication partners, the presentation of the object corresponding to that communication partner changes. Also, the environments can be used to send messages and mail documents.

Abstract: An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.

Abstract: Methods and systems consistent with the present invention display an overview of a first set of data that resides on a first server, where the first server includes a set of instructions and associated elements, for example multimedia elements, for displaying the first set of data on a display device. A web browser retrieves the set of instructions from the first server such that the associated elements remain un-retrieved by the web browser, and identifies a first set of links that link the first set of data to one another. The web browser then displays an overview, which includes a representation of the first set of data, using, for example, icons. Furthermore, the web browser identifies a second set of links that link one or more of the first set of data to a second set of data that resides on a second server, identifies electronic mail addresses that are included in the first set of data, and identifies the last modification dates associated with the first set of data.

Abstract: An active edge user interface includes dynamically configurable flexible touch areas positioned near the perimeter of a display to support interactive communication between a user and a user environment for flexible active touch areas surrounding a display. The interface allows for multiple levels of sensitivity, texture, key travel, and varying widths of active touch areas based on the user environment.

Abstract: A method and system for gathering and storing customer profile data when the customer accesses a website location. Dynamic content messages from company marketing material are selected in accordance with the profile data and used to provide a customized webpage to the customer. In addition, a customer service representative can provide real-time updates to the customized webpage when the customer contacts a customer service representative to place a product or service order.

Abstract: A system and method for management of an interface for communications systems and devices using a recognizer having a limited time duration recognition window, based on mapping available time to a spatial representation. The system has particular application to management of a speech interface for a speech recognizer with a limited time duration recognition window. When the speech recognizer is on and a recognition window is opened, a timing signal is sent to the device and processed to provide spatial representation of the time remaining, e.g. in the form of an animation on a graphical user interface, or a recognizable pattern of stimulation using a haptic interface. As the recognition window advances and closes, the animation or pattern also changes and closes, e.g. diminishes in size, to provide the user with spatial information indicative of the time left in the recognition window.