Abstract: Chat conversations are managed in a networked chat communications system, in which facilities are provided for reordering a stream of chat messages. Options are provided to emphasize messages of importance by visual and audio effects, and to de-emphasize messages of lesser importance. Changes in a window display may be propagated to and reflected in display windows of other chat participants.

Abstract: A method for determining differential availability, the method including identifying a current context of a first entity, and determining a current availability value of the first entity with respect to a second entity in accordance with an availability function, where the availability function is adaptive in accordance with an adaptation process to at least one past actual availability value of the fist entity with respect to the second entity in a previous context at least partially related to the current context, and where the availability function is operative to determine the current availability value as a function of the current context.

Abstract: A method for exchanging voice messages that may be employed in an answering machine, in wired or wireless telephone, or in an voice messaging system. An incoming voice message from a message source is received and recorded, parsed into segments, and the parsed message is played back to a listener, pausing between each of the parsed segments to accept and record a spoken response from the listener. A reply message is returned to the original message source that includes each such spoken response along with a snippet extracted from the particular segment responded to in the original message. The listener may also interrupt the playback of the voice message at any time to record a response.

Abstract: A personal communicator with context awareness in a wristwatch form for connecting intimate friends and family via awareness cues and text, voice instant message, or synchronous voice connectivity. Sensors worn with the watch produce raw data tracking location (via GPS), acceleration, and speech activity. The raw data is classified and conveyed to the other party, where it appears in iconic form on the watch face. When a remote person with whom this information is shared examines it, their face appears on the watch of the person being checked on.