Abstract: A refined search user interface is described. In an implementation, items that are available via a particular service and a list of other services that are also available are displayed in a user interface. The display of items is refined for each character entered via a search portion of the user interface. In another implementation, the list of other services that are displayed is determined based on relevance of one or more characters to the respective services. In yet another implementation, the display of other services is refined as the characters are input by a user.

Abstract: A customizable service provider user interface is described. In an implementation, a user is logged onto a suite a web services, to which, the user has not previously logged on. A user interface is output having a plurality of portions, one or more of which are customizable by the user through use of one or more overlays to customize interaction with the suite of web services.

Abstract: Data collection is described. A network-based data collection service enables users to define and manage data collections. Data items can be selected from any type of data source (e.g., a web page, a local document, an image file, an audio file, a video file, etc.) and added to a data collection. Data items may be any type of data (e.g., text, image, sound, video, etc.). A data collection may be shared by any number of users having various access permissions to the data collection. The data collection may also be viewed as a graphical presentation of each of the data items associated with the data collection such that each data item may be resized and/or repositioned within the graphical presentation.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: Persistent public calendar searching is described. A library of public calendars is automatically searched to identify public calendars that may be of interest to a particular user. Public calendars that are identified as being of potential interest to the user are then recommended to the user. If the user selects a recommended public calendar, then the public calendar is integrated with the user's personal calendar so that both the user's personal calendar data and the public calendar data can be presented to the user through the user's personal calendar.

Abstract: A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has a front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that the recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. Thus, the server-based card exchange appears to users as an exchange in the physical world.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: While You Were Away (WYWA) functionality is described for alerting a user to events which have transpired between a time that the user ceases interaction with an electronic environment and a time that the user resumes interaction with the electronic environment. The detected events may include news stories, Email messages, offline instant messenger (IM) messages, and so forth. The WYWA functionality can order the events based on at least one ordering criterion, as well as group the events into multiple categories. The WYWA functionality displays the events in a user interface panel that is presented to the user upon the resumption of their use of the electronic environment.

Abstract: Strategies are described for propagating and responding to announcements within an environment having pre-established social groups, such as pre-established instant messenger social groups. More specifically, a member within a group can create an announcement, whereupon the announcement becomes associated with the member's identity. The member can then propagate that announcement out as part of their identity to members within the member's immediate social order group. If the member so authorizes, the announcement can also be propagated out to other social groups linked to the member's immediate social group. A member within the immediate social group or one of the linked social groups can responds to the announcement. The use of pre-established social groups to transact announcement-related exchanges provides a level of trust not offered by conventional network-based messaging and merchandising services.

Abstract: Attachment browser is described. In an embodiment, an attachment browser displays a selection of communications received from multiple sources where each of the communications has an attachment. A representative image of each attachment is organized for display according to an attribute of the respective attachment, and a portion of each communication is displayed proximate an associated representative image to maintain the association of a communication and a respective attachment.

Abstract: A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. The exchange of the card, although server-based, appears to users to simply be a transfer of the card from the owner, or other party, to the recipient, much as a card changes hands in the physical world.

Abstract: A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. The exchange of the card, although server-based, appears to users to simply be a transfer of the card from the owner, or other party, to the recipient, much as a card changes hands in the physical world.

Abstract: Bubble messaging may include creating a bubble message and seamlessly sending the bubble message to one or more recipients. The bubble message may include message text and a bubble message shape specification. As a result of the bubble message being sent, a notification of the bubble message may be received. The notification of the bubble message may be displayed and, in response to recipient interaction with the displayed notification, a bubble message open animation may be displayed that provides a transition to a shape specified by the bubble message shape specification. The bubble message may be displayed with the shape specified by the bubble message shape specification. A bubble message editor may be configured to enable the creation and seamless sending of the bubble message. A bubble message viewer may be configured to enable the display of bubble messages. The bubble message may be unmodifiable after creation.

Abstract: Techniques for enabling mobile shared group interaction are described. Members of a group may access, through a user interface, group activities that provide a shared, synchronous, interactive experience. An interface may be provided via a mobile device such as a cellular telephone that enables members who are mobile to participate in group activities with other members who are also mobile or who are logged on via a non-mobile device such as a desktop computer system.

Abstract: A novel technique automatically stores synchronized group history related to an online group interaction and enables individual group members to later view and access the group history. In an embodiment of the invention, the group history is accessible by group members independently of group interactions at any later time. According to various embodiments of the invention, the group history may be presented in an overview form or a detailed form. With respect to the detailed form, the group history may be presented graphically, such as in an icon timeline or collage, textually, such as in list form, or in any combination of presentation formats. In a further embodiment of the invention, the synchronized group history is writable by group members in addition to being automatically maintained.

Abstract: A novel technique enables participants of an online group interaction to capture and encapsulate an ongoing activity at a particular moment in time. During the online group interaction, a user activates an icon, and is enabled to select properties of the saved memory, such as icon color/image for the saved material, what parts of the shared experience to save, etc. For example, the user may want to save all or some of the conversation, music played, scores for a game played, and the pictures viewed during the session, as well as any other portion desired. The saved material may represent a snapshot of the activity at save time, or may comprise a sequence of events up to the point that the material was saved. While saving the selected material, the application displays an animation such as an origami-type animation of a box folding up from a flat sheet.

Abstract: A novel application and user interface for facilitating group interactions over a network integrates messaging, file sharing, media playing, journaling, profiles, and gaming into a cohesive environment. The groups facilitated by the invention are persistent and mobile in that a user does not have to recollect and reconfigure the group each time he or she wants to interact with the group online and, while online, the group may be taken from one activity to another without having to disband and reconnect at the second activity. The application is modular so as to be extensible to include other activities and functionalities. In an embodiment, the group interaction application utilizes a peer-to-peer network environment to facilitate network communications between group members.

Abstract: A novel virtual calling card system and method aid in the formation of online relationships, serving as an introduction tool and as a contact mechanism. The calling card is an exchangeable entity that is automatically updated, ensuring that the recipient or viewer sees the most current version of the card. The card may display an aspect ratio that is the same as that of a traditional business card, and has front side and a reverse side. Furthermore, the card provides a number of avenues for the card owner to express themselves, including an array of affiliation symbols, a most recent mood symbol, and a text field. The reverse side of the card can display a representation of the owner's social network, so that recipients of the card may identify common friends and associates. The exchange of the card, although server-based, appears to users to simply be a transfer of the card from the owner, or other party, to the recipient, much as a card changes hands in the physical world.