Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods are provided for managing a plurality of information technology devices in an information technology environment in which the plurality of information technology devices are connected to a network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for suggesting actions to users of an immersive virtual environment based on previous user actions within the virtual environment. Generally, characteristics of actions performed by various users of the virtual environment may be stored in a searchable actions index. Subsequently, the actions index may be used to suggest actions based on similarity of the stored characteristics to those of a current user and/or actions. The suggested actions may be presented to the user as graphical indications visible within the user's view of the virtual environment.

Abstract: A method of controlling the repeat rate of a button displayed on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device is described. In accordance with one embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling touch input on a touch-sensitive display of a portable electronic device, the method comprising: displaying a user interface screen having at least one button on the touch-sensitive display; activating a variable repeat control mode in response to activation input; and repeating an action associated with the button at a rate in dependence on predetermined control input.

Abstract: A virtual environment server records and broadcasts a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), browser state information, and optionally clipping parameters, that are to be associated with a three dimensional (3D) surface in a virtual environment. When a user's Avatar encounters the 3D surface in the virtual environment, the client obtains the URL and browser state information, and obtains the web content using a standard web browser. The web content is stored into an off-screen buffer. The content from the off-screen buffer is then rendered locally as a texture map onto the 3D surface of the virtual environment. Whenever one of the users interacts with the web content, a new URL and new browser state information is used to obtain the updated web content in the same way. The new URL and new browser state information is also passed from the client to the server, so that the server may update the URL and new browser state information in each of the other clients associated with each of the other users.

Abstract: A method for facilitating a search for an object in a three-dimensional simulation can be provided. The method can include receiving from a user at least one search parameter corresponding to an object and executing a search for the object based on the at least one search parameter. The method can further include generating a list of search results, wherein each search result corresponds to an object in the three-dimensional simulation and receiving from the user a selection corresponding to a first object in the list of search results. The method can further include transporting an avatar of the user to a location of the first object and displaying a visual indicator of a position of the first object in the three-dimensional simulation, wherein the visual indicator is distinct from the first object and wherein the visual indicator is not viewed by other users.

Abstract: System, method and program for managing electronic sticky notes. At a first workstation, a user defines content of an electronic sticky and specifies one or more workstations to receive and display the electronic sticky note. The first workstation sends to a server, via one or more networks, a definition of the electronic sticky note and the specification of the one or more workstations to receive and display the electronic sticky note. The server sends a request, via one or more networks, to the one or more workstations to display the electronic sticky note. The request includes a definition of the electronic sticky note. The server can verify that the one or more workstations are currently on line and/or verify that the user is authorized to send the electronic sticky note to the one or more workstations.

Abstract: Systems and methods to facilitate the collection and processing of content generated by users are disclosed. Specifically, in one embodiment, user generated content may be aggregated from multiple retailers. This user generated content may be processed to obtain a variety of statistical data associated with the user generated content, including an importance metric. This importance metric may be utilized to rank the products of the manufacturer such that statistical, or other, data related to the manufacturer's products may be presented to a user in the order of product importance.

Abstract: A method is provided in association with a managed system having a substantial number of resources. The method includes the step of selecting an attribute that is common to all of the resources, wherein each resource has a status in regard to the selected attribute that is one of a plurality of prespecified statuses that are available for the attribute. The method further includes compressing the group of resources into a set of subgroups, wherein each subgroup corresponds to a different prespecified status of the plurality, and each resource having a given status is placed into the subgroup that corresponds to the given status. Each of the subgroups is represented by a display element on a single computer display screen, and specified information is displayed with each display element, wherein the specified information for a display element pertains to all of the resources placed into the subgroup that are represented by the display element.

Abstract: A metaverse system and method for allowing a user to attend a recorded past event in a metaverse application. The metaverse system includes a client computer, a metaverse server, and a time travel engine. The client computer interfaces with the metaverse application. The metaverse server records an event environment of a past event in a metaverse application. The time travel engine serves, in response to a request from a user, a playback of the recorded event environment to the client computer to allow the user to attend and to observe the recorded event environment.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes 1) retrieving a set of presentation elements from a remote server, the set of presentation elements including a graphical element, 2) retrieving metadata from the remote server, the metadata associated with the graphical element and including information specifying coordinates at which the graphical element is to be displayed and a distance for the graphical element to cover within a graphical user interface, 3) using the metadata to determine a distance to stretch the graphical element within the graphical user interface, 4) stretching the graphical element the determined distance starting from the specified coordinates, and 5) including the stretched graphical element within the graphical user interface. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to persistent network resource and virtual area associations for realtime collaboration include managing and displaying an object associated with a virtual area that supports establishment of respective presences of communicants operating respective client network nodes. Examples of the object include an object that has one or more user-modifiable property fields and an object that is associated with screen sharing functionality of the client network node.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for supporting activity-centered, automated grouping of application and data resources, includes generating a user interface in a display device, presenting a set of application, data or hardware resources for user interaction in the user interface, defining an activity group associated with the resources in response to a user performing a consolidated user interface action, generating an interface control object in the graphical user interface representing the activity group, and invoking the resources associated with the activity group in response to user activation of the interface control object.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically displaying structurally dissimilar thumbnail images generated from multiple pages of an electronic document based on a display size of a display device is disclosed. In one embodiment, one or more candidate images are selected based on a generated metric for dissimilarity for each one of multiple images associated with multiple pages of an electronic document, where the metric for dissimilarity for each one of the multiple images is generated by comparing each image of the multiple images with substantially previous images of the multiple images. Then, the selected one or more candidate images are dynamically displayed as structurally dissimilar thumbnail images based on a display size of a display device.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a storage portion for storing a plurality of menus, a multi-point-acceptable display-integrated tablet, a display control unit for causing the display-integrated tablet to display a display screen including the plurality of menus, an input processing unit for outputting an indicated position in accordance with an input while the input is provided to the display-integrated tablet, a selection unit for selecting menus based on a plurality of simultaneously output indicated positions, and an output portion for outputting the selected menus.

Abstract: This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an application-launching interface for multiple modes. This interface enables a user to quickly and easily select to launch applications associated with different modes. A user may avoid wading through multiple interfaces, making multiple selections, and/or a cognitive load associated with deciding on a mode with which to interact.

Abstract: A metaverse system and method for allowing a user to control a group of avatars in a metaverse application. The metaverse system includes a client computer, a metaverse server, and a group link engine. The metaverse server hosts a metaverse application over a network. The client computer interfaces with the metaverse application. The group link engine opens a group link connection. A linked group associated with the group link connection includes at least two linked users. At least one user is designated as a leader of the linked group. The group link engine includes a group link controller to allow the leader to control an action of an avatar of at least one other user.

Abstract: An embodiment of a user interface of an electronic device is configured to display user interface elements along a timeline. Each displayed user interface element is associated with an event that is characterized by one or more event attributes. The event attributes include a temporal attribute (e.g., a date and/or time). Each user interface element is relatively positioned along the timeline based on its temporal attribute, and each user interface element is displayed with a visual representation of a set of its associated event attributes. The displayed set of event attributes for a particular user interface element is determined based on a position of the user interface element along the timeline and/or a spatial zoom level at the time. The spatial zoom level and/or position along the timeline of each user interface element may be modified based on user inputs.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements of modifying spaces in virtual universes are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to receive data from a software agent in a virtual universe, directly or indirectly. The data may be based upon information automatically gathered from data stores outside the virtual universe, including account data and user profile data. The embodiment may also involve developing a user profile of the user in the virtual universe, based upon the data received from the software agent. An embodiment may also involve automatically gathering information from data stores external to the virtual universe. The information may include user account data and user profile information. The embodiment may also include aggregating data for generating the user profile in the virtual universe, based upon the information; and transmitting the data directly or indirectly to the virtual universe.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for building collaboration work environments within the virtual world through computer generated (and possibly controlled) avatars and other three dimensional (3D) objects. It provides a solution to a problem where computer generated avatars and objects visually represent the execution, progress and output of a collaboration project. It provides the system and method for quickly visualizing collaboration activities and outputs to allow people to quickly and easily track progress of said activities. Visually representing collaboration activities allows observers to identify the number and different types of collaboration activities which are currently occurring, the progress of each collaboration activity, the system or component that the collaboration activity is creating or any problems or issues identified during activities supporting the collaboration work effort.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an overflow stack. An overflow stack can be generated based upon adjustments to a group display area and based upon application of one or more display criterion. An overflow stack can include representation of any system objects that can not be displayed in an adjusted group display area based upon the one or more display criterion.