Abstract: A unified messaging platform is described which provides a comprehensive environment for collaboration, file sharing, and project management. In aspects, the unified messaging platform is organized based on one or more teams or projects, where each team or project is further organized by customizable categories. A user interface is provided for ready access to information related to each category (e.g., communications, files, tasks, work product, etc.), which information is automatically and seamlessly synchronized across the platform such that each team member remains abreast of the current progress and status of a project. Team collaboration and cooperation is facilitated by interactive semantic objects. Interactive semantic objects may act as an access points to external services, centralized interfaces for team interaction, scheduling interfaces, and the like.

Abstract: Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe a collaborative communication system that may interface with one or more command resources. The collaborative communication system may comprise at least one memory and at least one processor operatively connected with the memory to execute operations. In response to command input being received during authoring in a user interface of the collaborative communication system, a query is processed and passed to a command resource. The query comprises parameters of the command input and a context associated with the authoring. A response is received from the command resource based on the parameters of the command input and the context. The response may comprise result data and parameters for interacting with the collaborative communication system. The result data is presented in the user interface of the collaborative communication system. Other examples are also described.

Abstract: A method and computer program product instituting an entirely client-based system for sharing messages and other data objects is provided. Communication between clients occurs over a generic store and forward transport such as the Internet message protocol described in RFC 822 and implemented on the Internet or other wide area network. A message or other data object is originally maintained by a “publication” client that publishes the data object and any modifications thereto to one or more “subscription” clients that will each maintain a copy thereof. As modifications are made by a client (either publication or subscription) to the client copy of the data object, the modified data object is sent, using the store and forward transport, to the publication client to update the data object.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping and editing items directly on a display screen without accessing a dialog box. A box is displayed for grouping a plurality of items. These items are comprised of various fields of information. At least one field is selected for grouping the items. After the field is selected, the field is placed onto the box. The selected field is then displayed in the box. After the field is displayed in the box, the items are grouped by the selected field. After grouping the items by the selected field, the items are displayed as grouped by the selected field. The tasks are repeated for each field remaining if nesting of groups is desired. Items can be edited directly on the display screen by selecting an item from a first field group. The item is then moved to a second field group. As the item moves to the second field group, a message is displayed indicating the status of the item if the item is placed in the second field group. The item is then placed in the second field group.

Abstract: Processing electronic messages by applying a rule representing a combination of additions, actions, or exceptions. A conditions window is displayed to present conditions upon which a rule for processing electronic messages cause an action to be taken. A condition can be selected in response to an input signal. In turn, an actions window is displayed to present actions that may be taken in response to the selected condition. An action is selected in response to receipt of an input signal. The actions window is updated to display the current state of the rule in a natural language format presented as a contiguous string of appended clauses corresponding to both the selected condition and the selected action. To create a rule including an exception, an exceptions window is displayed to present a list of exceptions associated with the selected condition. In response to receiving an input signal, an exception corresponding to the input signal is selected.

Abstract: A system and method for creating a new destination data structure in memory populated with data from fields of an existing source data structure. A representation of the source is selected, dragged over, and dropped onto an icon representing a program module. The source and the program module are each associated with a type of data structure. If these types of data structures are different, then the destination is created in memory of the type associated with the program module. Once the destination is created, the data within the source is transformed to populate predetermined fields of the destination. One way of populating the destination is by determining which field in the destination corresponds to a given field in the source. Data from a given field of the source is loaded into the corresponding field of the destination.

Abstract: In an electronic mail system environment, a system and method for automatically checking recipients' names, providing message flags, providing custom forms, and providing an autoresponse feature. Recipients' names are resolved in the background, while the user of the e-mail system is composing the message. The user easily resolves ambiguous names by using a context menu. The resolved ambiguous names are automatically used to create nicknames, which are used to resolve ambiguous names in the future. Message flags allow a sender or recipient to identify required follow-up action and a deadline. The recipient may use the message flags to quickly determine which messages require follow-up action. The e-mail system notifies a recipient when a due date is approaching or when a follow-up action is past due. A custom forms feature allows a user to create and share custom forms without requiring the form to be published or installed by other user.

Abstract: A desktop information manager includes a "Rules Wizard" for creating and editing rules for processing electronic messages. The Rules Wizard allows creation of rules in a step-by-step manner by selecting natural language phrases representing conditions, actions, and exceptions. As rule components are selected by the user, the current rule is displayed in a natural language format. Variables are displayed as hypertext links. When the user specifies the value of a variable, the specified value is threaded back into the displayed rule. Templates and a rules from context feature expedite the construction of rules. Once created rules are stored on the client computer and possibly uploaded to the server in order to ensure efficient message processing.

Abstract: A system and method for grouping and editing items directly on a display screen without accessing a dialog box. A box is displayed for grouping a plurality of items. These items are comprised of various fields of information. At least one field is selected for grouping the items. After the field is selected, the field is placed onto the box. The selected field is then displayed in the box. After the field is displayed in the box, the items are grouped by the selected field. After grouping the items by the selected field, the items are displayed as grouped by the selected field. The tasks are repeated for each field remaining if nesting of groups is desired. Items can be edited directly on the display screen by selecting an item from a first field group. The item is then moved to a second field group. As the item moves to the second field group, a message is displayed indicating the status of the item if the item is placed in the second field group. The item is then placed in the second field group.

Abstract: A screen saver program is provided within a computer system. The screen saver program includes a note facility for generating notes. The notes facility includes a note-taker interface. The screen saver program is run on the computer system and in response to receiving input from a user, the note-taker interface is displayed on a video display of the computer system. In response to input by the user via the note-taker interface, a note is created. Subsequently, the screen saver program is dismissed and the note is displayed on the video display when the screen saver is dismissed.

Abstract: Views and view controls are used to display and access data created from multiple applications. Namespaces, folders, items, views and view control objects are used to abstract the data type of the data, contained in items. Therefore, data can be displayed in multiple views and the same view can be used to display data independent of the data type. To display a view, a user selects a folder that contains items. A folder, item, view, and view control work together to define the fields and data to display and the format to display them. The user can generate many views by editing one view, thereby creating a new view. An edit interface is provided allowing the user to modify a view. Modifications include entering new data in a view, defining new fields, and entering calculations based on other data. A new view control can be installed by determining what information to pass, conforming to OLE standards and entering the view control in the operating system's database registry.