Abstract: An instant messaging (IM) client-server network system includes a calendar server and an IM server in one embodiment. The calendar server stores calendars including events and lists of attendees for respective events. The calendar server also stores IM restriction information that specifies limitation of the IM capabilities of attendees of a particular event. In one embodiment, an event organizer inputs the IM restriction information. In another embodiment, an event attendee inputs IM restriction information that limits the IM capability of that particular attendee. When the time of a calendared event arrives, the calendar server sends the IM restriction information associated with that event to the IM server. The IM server enforces the IM restrictions associated with the IM restriction information during the particular event. When the event is over, the IM server restores full IM capability to the attendees of the event.

Abstract: A networked system includes multiple information handling systems (IHSs) that store personal user information such as name and contact information. The networked system automatically updates personal user information when one IHS communicates with another IHS. A first IHS stores personal user information associated with a first IHS user. A second IHS also stores the first user's personal information. The first IHS sends a first user information update to the second IHS if the first IHS determines that the first user information on the second IHS is not current. A digital certificate accompanies the update to indicate the authenticity of the information update to the second IHS.

Abstract: A networked system includes multiple information handling systems (IHSs) that store personal user information such as electronic business cards (EBCs). A first IHS stores the EBC of the EBC owner, namely the user of the first IHS. A second user operates a second IHS. When the second user attempts to forward the EBC to a third IHS operated by a third user, the second IHS instead sends an EBC request to the third IHS. The third user then forwards the EBC request back to the EBC owner's IHS if the third user desires to obtain the EBC. This provides the original owner of the EBC with the opportunity to reject or approve the request for the EBC. In this manner, the owner of the EBC effectively controls the downstream distribution of the owner's EBC when IHS users other than the owner attempt to forward the owner's EBC.

Abstract: A method, system, and program product that enable dynamic scheduling/arranging of access by multiple users to a single electronic file. A network-database access management utility (NAMU) is provided, which manages/schedules network-level access to the electronic file. NAMU includes an access-request queue that schedules/arranges the user identifier (IDs) for each of multiple users that have requested access to the file while the file was checked out to a previous user. When the first user completes his access to the file and closes the file, an alert is generated for the next user in queue. This alert informs the next user that the first user has closed the file and that he/she may now access the electronic file.

Abstract: Writing a collaborative email document with hierarchical authorities including establishing a collaborative email document on an administrator's computer, identifying one or more signatories for the document, identifying one or more collaborators who are authorized to view and edit the document, providing to the collaborators copies of the document for viewing and editing, where the collaborators' copies reside on collaborators' computers, updating the copies of the document on collaborators' computers with revisions from the collaborators, and sending the collaborative email document from the administrator's computer to addressees when the document bears valid digital signatures from all signatories.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for writing collaborative email documents, including establishing a collaborative email document on an administrator's computer; identifying one or more collaborators who are authorized to view and edit the document; providing to the collaborators copies of the document for viewing and editing, wherein the collaborators' copies reside on collaborators' computers; creating revisions in at least one copy of the document; recording the revisions; and updating the copies of the document on collaborators' computers with the revisions. Embodiments typically include identifying editable portions of the email document, including specifying that only certain collaborators are authorized to view and edit one or more portions of the document. In many embodiments, revisions are streamed through a server so that there is no ‘master copy’ of a collaborative document, on a server or elsewhere, against which revisions are recognized.

Abstract: When the number of characters typed in an instant message window reaches a preset length parameter, the partially typed message is automatically sent to the message recipient with an ellipsis appended to the end of the partial message to inform the message recipient they have received only a portion of the message. While the partial message is transmitted, the message sender continues to type the message without interruption, and if the number of characters input into the message window since the last transmission reaches the preset length parameter, the latest partially typed message is automatically transmitted. The process repeats as the message sender continues to type the message, causing portions of the message to be automatically transmitted to the recipient during the composition process, until the sender selects send and the entire composed message, comprising a concatenation of all transmitted partial messages and any remaining typed characters, is sent to the recipient.

Abstract: A process for managing an instant messaging or chat room session provides an automated real-time status of the activity of a participant currently disengaged from the messaging session. Throughout the messaging session, the status a participant is continuously determined, and a status indicator indicating the current action of the participant is sent to the other participant. The instant messaging application, other system applications and all interconnected hardware are monitored for user activity. Detected user activity is interpreted into a status indicator, which is transmitted to the other participant and displayed on the recipient's computer in a preferred format.

Abstract: A control surface is enabled that is flexible to provide a tactile-detectable graphical representation of graphical output from a data processing system. Application of external force to the control surface is detected. Closed-loop force feedback through the tactile-detectable graphical representation is controlled, in response to detection of external force applied to the control surface. In addition, adjustment of a view element is detected. The magnification of the graphical output that is represented by the tactile-detectable graphical representation is controlled, in response to detection of adjustment of the view control element.