Abstract: A user's access to content may be managed by determining a mood originating point for a present track for a user, with the mood originating point being related to a mood indicator for the present track, identifying a mood destination for a user playlist, the mood destination being related to a mood indicator for an end track that is targeted for the user, and calculating a mood transition from the mood originating point to the mood destination. The mood transition includes one or more intermediary tracks between the mood destination and the mood originating point, such that a quantified mood transition between two tracks in a user playlist including the present track, the intermediary tracks, and the end track, is less than an identified mood transition threshold.

Abstract: Using switching technologies to duplicate packets of a digital stream (e.g., digital video stream) sent from one workstation to multiple recipient workstations, where the switching technologies enable the multiple streams sent from the switch to the recipient workstations to be generated from a single digital stream sent from the sending workstation to the switch. Data units, such as video data units, may be transmitted by using a switch to enable receipt of a stream of data units including a payload portion and an attribute portion from at least two conferencing participants. The switch is used to duplicate at least a subportion of the payload portion of a data unit within the stream of data units, and to enable access to the duplicated subportion of the data unit by two or more conferencing participants.

Abstract: A client system is configured to submit a request to a first instant messaging system for access to the first instant messaging service The request includes an online identity that is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service associated with the second instant messaging system. The second instant messaging system is configured to send a message to the first instant messaging system that indicates the online identity is currently being used to access a second instant messaging service associated with the second instant messaging system. The first instant messaging system maintains a profile that is updated to indicate that the online identity is currently being used to access the first instant messaging service and, in response to the message, the profile is also updated to indicate that the online identity is currently begin used to access the second instant messaging service.

Abstract: Access to a first instant messaging service using an online identity that is associated with a second instant messaging service is enabled. A profile is accessed. The profile indicates that another instant messaging service is to be provided with presence information regarding the use of the online identity to access the first instant messaging service. The other instant messaging service is provided with the presence information regarding the use of the online identity to access the first instant messaging service.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a first URL address corresponding to a first web page, accessing content and serving the first web page based on the first URL address, receiving specification of a second URL address corresponding to a second web page, changing from the first web page to the second web page based on the received specification of the second URL address, motivating an automatic change in television channel from a first television channel to a second television channel based upon a change from the first web page to the second web page, and displaying the second television channel.

Abstract: A user maintains notification setting information having temporal periods capable of controlling, at least in part, the dissemination of information describing the on-line presence of the user within an instant messaging system or the geographic location of one or more mobile communications devices used by the user. The user may use multiple identities to communicate within the instant messaging system and/or with the mobile communications device or devices. The user can maintain sets of temporal periods for each of the multiple identities. Only one identity may be used at a specific time to communicate to a specific other identity, but the multiple identities of the user may be linked such that on-line presence and/or geographic location associated with one of the identities is disseminated based on the temporal periods set for one or more of the multiple identities.

Abstract: Streaming to a terminal by using a duplicating switch to receive a stream of data units, using the duplicating switch to store content from the stream, using the duplicating switch to generate a second stream that incorporates the content that was stored and address information corresponding to more than one terminal whose addressing information was not part of the first stream, and using the duplicating switch to make the second stream of data units available to two or more terminals.

Abstract: A solution is provided to monitor Web browsing activity across an Internet based network of affiliated Web sites and to enable the Web sites to detect and to force re-authentication upon users who have had a period of network-wide inactivity longer than a site-specific maximum allowable inactivity period. The network comprises at least one network authentication server (NAS) which maintains a network-wide activity tracking (NATr) cookie. The NATr cookie comprises a set of network-wide activity tracking (NATr) parameters for each registered user. Each of the Web sites maintains a site-specific activity tracking (SATr) cookie which comprises a set of site-specific activity tracking (SATr) parameters for each registered user. The NATr parameters for each user are reset whenever the user authenticates to the network.

Abstract: Leveraging a persistent connection to provide a client access to a secured service may include establishing a persistent connection with a client in response to a first request from the client, and brokering a connection between the client and a secured service based on a second request from the client by leveraging the persistent connection with the client. The brokering may occur before the client attempts to connect to the secured service directly and the connection may be established between the client and the secured service without provision by the client of authentication information duplicative or additional to authentication information provided by the client to establish the persistent connection.

Abstract: Temporal drift correction may be provided in a real-time audio communication system by measuring a size of a receiving data buffer and comparing that size to a predetermined nominal data buffer size. An amount of temporal drift is characterized as a number of samples per audio playback data block based on the measured data buffer size and the nominal data buffer size. A number of samples to be inserted or removed for each audio playback data block to correct the temporal drift may be determined, and the number of samples for each audio playback data block may be modified. For example, an instantaneous size of the receiving data buffer may be measured, and if measured multiple times, may be averaged over a time period. Heuristic resampling of the audio playback data block also may be performed.

Abstract: Application code for deployment to a client over a data link is optimized to minimize download time by supplying only the application code with a particular object that is required by the object. In a web application that includes multiple pages, the HTML and JAVASCRIPT are scanned to identify code resources called by a particular web page. When all called resources are identified, they are extracted and concatenated into a single resource file. When the page is downloaded to the client, the import file is included with the page. The import file may be cached so that it need only be downloaded once, rather than being downloaded every time the page is requested. The invention is suitable for use with other interpreted scripting languages.

Abstract: An electronic assistant handles instant messages sent to a user when the user is away or offline. The electronic assistant may respond intelligently and helpfully to inquiries regarding the user's away or offline status, may take messages for delivery to the away or offline user, and may intelligently forward messages to the user, as appropriate.

Abstract: A message screening system includes routing to a supervisory recipient an electronic message directed to an intended recipient. The supervisory recipient then is allowed to screen the electronic message by approving or rejecting the electronic message. The electronic message then is forwarded to the intended recipient if the electronic message is approved by the supervisory recipient.

Abstract: A data transfer method performed at a proxy server includes intercepting a data request from a client computer that is directed to a target server, encrypting profile information, augmenting the data request by adding the encrypted profile information to the data request, and sending the augmented data request to the target server. A data transfer method that is performed at an information server includes receiving a data request from a proxy server, extracting profile information added to the data request by the proxy server, using the extracted profile information to generate a response, and sending the response to the proxy server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing subscription-type arrangements involving a recurring series of messages sent to a plurality of user recipients on a communications network is disclosed. Incoming messages are monitored by a filtering agent, and message attributes are compared to corresponding parameters stored in a database to block certain messages from unauthorized sources and forward authorized messages to an addressee. Provisions are made for a communications service provider to create special arrangements with commercial partners to facilitate the starting, modification, and canceling of subscription arrangements. Individual user recipients can independently contact the commercial partners, third-party commercial entities, individual or groups to establish a subscription-type arrangement. Various forms and procedures enable a subscription manager component to keep track of all such arrangements in the database.

Abstract: Searching different data stores based on a classification of a search term may include receiving at least one search term and classifying the search term among at least first and second categories. When the search term is classified within the first category, the search term is compared to first electronic information within a first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist. When the search term is classified within the second category, the search term is compared to at least second electronic information within at least a second electronic information store that differs from the first electronic information store to determine whether matches exist. A result is displayed based on the matches that are determined to exist.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for real-time call control. When a call is received at a telephone server for a service subscriber, the server identifies the subscriber and retrieves information that will allow the server to contact the subscriber via instant messaging. An instant message is sent to the subscriber, and includes any number of options for controlling or handling the call. The options may be presented as hyperlinks, or the selected option may be returned in another instant message. The subscriber selects an option and communicates it to the server, which effects the selected option. The server may establish an audio connection between the server and the subscriber's computer or communication device (to allow the parties to talk), may transfer the call to another number, play a message for the caller (which may be pre-recorded or recorded in real-time), record a voicemail (which the subscriber may screen), etc.

Abstract: Detecting a physical location change of a mobile communications device may initiate a process to initiate, or cancel, forwarding of future incoming communications to the mobile communications device. Forwarding information for a mobile communications device may be accessed and modified using an interface that communicates using an Internet Protocol network.

Abstract: An apparatus for classifying digital communications includes an interface module, an identification module, and a notification module. The interface module enables a recipient to perceive information relating to one or more digital communications received by the recipient. The identification module enables a first interface element capable of enabling the recipient to classify the digital communications among at least one category. The notification module notifies a network server of a classification received from the recipient using the first interface element.

Abstract: It is useful to provide a mechanism to allow, at least temporarily, communications to occur without blocking between a first entity and a second entity with whom communications with the first entity are likely/anticipated and desirable, generally through use of a white-list having transactional entries. For example, to allow communications between a communications user and an intended recipient, the user may be added to global and/or personal white-lists for or until a specified transaction or duration. Thereafter, the user may be removed from the white-lists upon occurrence of an end trigger, which may include an event or expiration of a specified time. The disclosed systems and methods thus permit the transactional white-listing of users for a limited time necessary to ensure the intended recipient receives the anticipated communications. Thereby, the systems and methods guard against the anticipated communications being accidentally blocked as spam by other communications filters.