Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes sending an instant message communication from a first device of a first person to a plurality of other persons in a topic-based community, and receiving a number of instant message communications at the first device. The method further includes placing each of the response instant message communications in a separate display that is viewable by the first person, and sending a second instant message communication from the first device of the first person to the plurality of other persons after a certain number of response instant message communications have been received by the first device from the plurality of other persons, wherein the second instant message communication is an indication that the first person is satisfied with at least one of the response instant message communications.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of controlling attribute expression for an avatar within a virtual environment can include defining a rule that determines expression of an attribute of a first avatar conditioned upon an attribute of at least one other avatar within a virtual environment and, responsive to the first avatar contacting a second avatar within the virtual environment, determining an attribute of the second avatar. The method can include determining whether to express the attribute of the first avatar according to the attribute of the second avatar as determined by the rule and outputting a state of the first avatar specifying each attribute selected for expression.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of alerting users to collaborative activity can include receiving a user input selecting at least one of a plurality of data types to be included within a notification, wherein the plurality of data types correspond to collaborative session data exchanged during a collaborative session among a plurality of users. The method can include buffering collaborative session data during the collaborative session and responsive to detecting an occurrence of an awareness triggering event, outputting the notification comprising at least a portion of the buffered collaborative session data corresponding to the selected at least one of a plurality of data types.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of point of sale transaction processing can include determining an identity of a user at a transaction site, identifying a plurality of financial accounts associated with the user, and for each financial account, accessing account information associated with the account. The method can include identifying a vendor type for the transaction site, selecting a financial account with which to process a transaction according to the vendor type and the account information for each of the plurality of accounts, and outputting the selected financial account. A list of financial accounts and incentives may be presented from which a user may select a particular financial account for processing the transaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for staging content for an instant messaging (IM) chat session. In one embodiment, the invention includes entering content into a staging area and transferring the entered content from the staging area to an input area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of selecting event handlers can include initiating a drag and drop operation for a source object and, responsive to detecting contact between the source object and a window of a graphical user interface (GUI), displaying a plurality of icons, wherein each icon represents an event handler for a drop target within the window. The method can include detecting contact between the source object and at least one of the plurality of icons while dragging the object, designating each event handler associated with a contacted icon to process the source object, and responsive to dropping the source object onto the drop target, invoking each designated event handler to process the source object for the drop target. Each designated event handler can output a process result.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for. In one embodiment of the invention, a chat session suspension and resumption management method can include establishing a chat session among at least two conversants, receiving a request by one of the conversants to suspend the established chat session for a specified duration of time, and suspending the chat session for the specified duration of time and automatically resuming the chat session subsequent to the specified duration of time without further instruction by the conversants. The method further can include determining whether the request to suspend the established chat session for the specified duration of time permits negotiation of the specified duration of time, and exchanging negotiated durations of time between the conversants until arriving at an agreed upon duration only if permitted by the request.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to hierarchical tree file browsers and provide a method, system and computer program product for selectably flattening a hierarchical tree object structure in a hierarchical tree object browser. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of flattening an object hierarchy in an object browser can be provided. The method can include selecting a node in an object hierarchy in an object browser and, responsive to selecting the node, displaying content for the selected node and content for at least one node below the selected node in the object browser.