Abstract: An incoming web feed received from a web feed document server is monitored for changes associated with a web feed document. A change associated with the web feed document is determined to have occurred. A priority is assigned to the change associated with the web feed document based upon a ranking criterion. The change associated with the web feed document is stored with the assigned priority to a memory. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An approach is provided that that uses an electronic multi-touch floor covering that has numerous sensors to identify shapes. The electronic multi-touch floor covering identifies a shape of an object that is in contact with the surface of the electronic multi-touch floor covering. An entity record is then retrieved from a data store, such as a database, with the retrieved entity record corresponding to the identified shape. Actions are then retrieved from a second data store with the actions corresponding to the retrieved entity record. The retrieved actions are then executed by the computer system.

Abstract: A game manager receives a request from a user to play a cue sport, which includes a table and a plurality of balls. The game manager retrieves user attributes corresponding to the user that include a user skill level. Next, the game manager detects ball locations for each of the plurality of balls, and determines one or more beginning shot opportunities based upon the user skill level and the plurality of ball locations. In turn, the game manager provides the beginning shot opportunities to the user.

Abstract: One or more alcohol inputs are received at the interactive system. Each of the alcohol inputs corresponds to an alcoholic beverage to be consumed by a consumer. The system calculates an estimated blood-alcohol level of the consumer based on the alcohol inputs. The estimated blood-alcohol level is compared with one or more alcohol impairment limits retrieved from an electronic data store. If the comparison reveals that the consumer might be impaired, an alert is automatically signaled.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for relating code with intellectual property assets are provided in the illustrative embodiments. An intellectual property asset is identified. A portion of code is located from an entire code of a software application, such that the portion of code corresponds to the intellectual property asset. The portion of code is marked with information identifying the intellectual property asset. The portion of the code is executed during the execution of the software application. The execution of the portion of code is recorded, the recording indicating a use of the intellectual property asset. Additionally, a set of analysis control factors may be accepted. The recording may be analyzed according to the set of analysis control factors. A recommendation for an intellectual property asset related business decision to develop, invest in, or maintain certain intellectual property assets may be produced.

Abstract: A system for protecting data within a portable storage device. A self-destruct unit associated with the portable storage device is enabled. If the portable storage device is not within a pre-specified route tolerance or if the portable storage device is not at a pre-selected identification checkpoint, an alert message is sent. In response to receiving a particular response, a self-destruct signal is sent to the enabled self-destruct unit. Then the enabled self-destruct unit creates an electromagnetic pulse from a xenon flash tube to render confidential data within the portable storage device unusable.

Abstract: In a collaborative environment wherein persons use a specified system to communicate with one another, and a first person receives a request for information from one or more other persons, embodiments of the invention are used to provide a comprehensive measurement of collaboration that indicates the effectiveness of the first person in collaborating with one or more other persons in the environment. In an embodiment directed to a method, the embodiment includes, for each response made by the first person to one of the received requests, determining the value of at least one metric that represents the value of the response. The method further includes deriving one or more additional measurement values, wherein each additional measurement value represents the value of the participation of the first person in each of one or more additional measurable collaborative activities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for use in association with a computer operated interactive device having a surface, wherein the interactive device is responsive to contact between its surface and persons or objects, and is adapted to selectively display images upon its surface. One embodiment, comprising a method, includes enabling the interactive device to access specified information pertaining to the user. Also, the device is selectively configured for interaction with a user, during a time related to performance of a specified activity. The method further includes using at least some of the specified user information to determine the orientation of the user with respect to a reference position of the surface, at a time related to performance of the specified activity. The method also includes performing a task, wherein performance of the task is related to the determined user orientation.

Abstract: A user visiting a computer other than his or her customary one logs on to a website or email server where the user's personal keyboard preference profile has been stored. The personal preferences are downloaded via the browser to the computer being used, and passed to its operating system via an Applications Programming Interface where the computer can install the personal preference profile as the temporary keyboard layout profile. The original keyboard layout of that computer is retrieved from the operating system and sent to the website or email for temporary storage so that the original layout may be restored once the user is finished.

Abstract: A system for preventing unauthorized viewing of content displayed on a computer display is presented. Once the system is activated, a computer user's eyes are tracked. If some source of interruption enters the vicinity of the user, the computer user will reflexively glance or look at the distraction, which accordingly results in the user removing his focus from the content on the computer display. As the user's focus is diverted from the display due to the interruption, the eye tracking detects this. In response to the detected removal of focus, the computer display is locked out extremely rapidly such that the content is no longer displayed.

Abstract: A method to assist in tagging an entity includes a user selecting at least one threshold for the user's activity of at least one entity; monitoring user activity of the at least one entity; and when the at least one threshold is reached, automatically suggesting or recommending to the user that the at least one entity be tagged. The user has the option to tag or not tag the at least one entity. Usage data is associated with a tagged entity.

Abstract: A method and system enables users to select clothing choices for various situations such as: 1) During the purchase of new clothing items; 2) when deciding what to pack for a trip, possibly to a different culture; 3) when deciding what to wear for a particular occasion, or what to pack for a trip. In this invention, a database contains information about a client's wardrobe. Each item in the database is placed in a defined category and has a unique identity. The user can enter certain search requirement that enable the invention to search the clothing database for clothing matches that are consistent with the search requirements.

Abstract: A method, medium and implementing processing system are provided for enabling enhanced help or guidance that is tailored to a user and is available on a multitude of “levels” and in a variety of ways. A user is enabled to create a user profile by inputting information about his or her personal interests, i.e. what they plan or hope to do in a virtual world application and possibly how the application can best meet the individual's needs. Users are enabled to specify interests using a form, free-form text, or other means of input. Based on the user input specifications, and depending upon user activity while in the metaverse application, information will be provided about users, places, and events that may be useful to the user in accomplishing the individual user's objectives.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments provide a computer implemented method, an apparatus in the form of a data processing system, and a computer program product for an intellectual property subscribe and publication notification service. In one illustrative embodiment the computer implemented method comprises obtaining an intellectual property source and creating a list of approved subscribers for the intellectual property source, wherein each subscriber of the list of subscribers indicates elements of interest. The computer implemented method further comprises creating a set of queries comprising the elements of interest associated with the list of approved subscribers and monitoring the intellectual property source for the elements of interest to create identified elements of interest. The computer implemented method then publishing notification of the identified elements of interest to the list of approved subscribers.

Abstract: A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. Each of the retrieved preparation steps is displayed sequentially to the user on a horizontal surface display that is included in an interactive cooking preparation device. During at least one preparation step, a selected kitchen appliance is identified, such as a configurable burner surface. The identified preparation step also includes one or more appliance parameters that correspond to the selected kitchen appliance. The selected kitchen appliance is controlled by sending one or more signals from the interactive cooking preparation device to the selected kitchen appliance. At least one of the signals sent to the appliance includes one of the appliance parameters.

Abstract: An interactive cooking device is provided. A user selects a recipe from a list of available recipes. Preparation steps corresponding to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store along with a set of ingredients. The retrieved preparation steps are sequentially displaying to the user on a display that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user's preparation actions are monitored, using one or more sensors. Gestures that correspond to the current preparation step are retrieved from the data store along with thresholds that correspond to each of the gestures. The user's actions are compared to the retrieved gestures using the retrieved thresholds. If the user's actions vary from the gestures by more than the thresholds, an alert is generated. The user is then provided with a suggested course of correction.

Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device that includes a flexible horizontal display surface is presented. A set of actuators located under the flexible horizontal display surface that, when activated, cause a tactile sensation on the display surface. A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. A set of preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store. Each of the preparation steps are displayed to the user on the flexible horizontal surface display. A current preparation step that is being performed by the user is identified. The user is directed to an area of the interactive cooking preparation device using a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile feedback mechanism causes a physical sensation on the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. The physical sensation is felt by the user when the user is touching the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device.

Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device is presented. The user places ingredients that the user wishes to use in a recipe. The interactive cooking preparation device detects the ingredients placed by the user in the detection area of the interactive cooking preparation device using sensors. The detection results in a set of ingredient identifiers that correspond to the placed ingredients. A recipes database is then searched for the detected set of ingredient identifiers. The database search results in one or more suggested recipes. The suggested recipes are displayed to the user on a display device that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user then selects one of the suggested recipes.

Abstract: A way of delivering recipe preparation instruction to disabled individuals is provided using an interactive cooking preparation device. The device retrieves an instruction delivery preference that corresponds to a user with a disability, such as a hearing or sight disability. The user then selects a recipe from list of recipes. Preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store, such as a database. The retrieved preparation steps are provided to the user using the interactive cooking preparation device that provides the preparation steps in an alternative delivery mode based on the user's delivery preference.

Abstract: A method and system for enhancing a virtual world application to facilitate social networking between users are disclosed. The system detects a trigger condition within the virtual world application, and in response to detecting the trigger condition, searches one or more real world social networking application relationship databases for real world social network relationships between a first user of the virtual world application and at least one other user of the virtual world application. Based on the results of the searching performed on the social networking application relationship databases, the disclosed system displays alerts containing real world social network information describing real world social networks connecting the first user and one or more other users of the virtual world application that were detected by the searching.