Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for obtaining, viewing and marking maps in real time. Maps are obtained from a list of maps, the maps are then viewed on interactive tabletop displays allowing a user to visualize a mapped location and “markup” points on the map. The markup data is captured as a small file and sent out to responders via rapid transmission in both real time as it is developed or as final actionable information. The maps employed in the present invention include land maps or building floor plans that are either in paper or digital formats.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for obtaining, viewing and marking maps in real time. Maps are obtained from a list of maps, the maps are then viewed on interactive tabletop displays allowing a user to visualize a mapped location and “markup” points on the map. The markup data is captured as a small file and sent out to responders via rapid transmission in both real time as it is developed or as final actionable information. The maps employed in the present invention include land maps or building floor plans that are either in paper or digital formats. This invention empowers emergency management personnel to leverage all available information and create actionable plans that can be shared with tactical teams at a low cost.

Abstract: One or more buddy lists from a first user's computer is populated on one or more other users' computers to cause a buddy list update of community buddy lists. The buddy lists may be auto-populated in response to a change in job status of the first user.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and device for obtaining, viewing and marking maps in real time. Maps are obtained from a list of maps, the maps are then viewed on interactive tabletop displays allowing a user to visualize a mapped location and “markup” points on the map. The markup data is captured as a small file and sent out to responders via rapid transmission in both real time as it is developed or as final actionable information. The maps employed in the present invention include land maps or building floor plans that are either in paper or digital formats. This invention empowers emergency management personnel to leverage all available information and create actionable plans that can be shared with tactical teams at a low cost.

Abstract: One or more buddy lists from a first user's computer is populated on one or more other users' computers to cause a buddy list update of community buddy lists. The buddy lists may be auto-populated in response to a change in job status of the first user.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronously delivering complementary data to two devices. Complementary data is used herein to designate at least two streams of related data that, when combined, form an organic whole. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a command is received through a network for the synchronous transmission of complementary data. Subsequently, first data is transmitted through the network to a first device synchronized with transmission of second data to a second device, wherein the first and second data are complementary data. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile and/or hand-held device such as a PDA is used to control another device remotely through one or more networks, such that complementary, synchronous streams of data that are intended for observation in combination by users and/or entities, can be transmitted to each of the PDA and the device.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronously delivering complementary data to two devices. Complementary data is used herein to designate at least two streams of related data that, when combined, form an organic whole. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a command is received through a network for the synchronous transmission of complementary data. Subsequently, first data is transmitted through the network to a first device synchronized with transmission of second data to a second device, wherein the first and second data are complementary data. In one embodiment of the invention, a mobile and/or hand-held device such as a PDA is used to control another device remotely through one or more networks, such that complementary, synchronous streams of data that are intended for observation in combination by users and/or entities, can be transmitted to each of the PDA and the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to generate a unique code for a message and then allows easy and direct access to the content of that specific message. The unique code is transmitted in a message alert, which may be implemented for a variety of media. In particular, according to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and system for enhanced messaging services incorporating the capability of alerting a message service subscriber to the receipt of high priority messages according to a defined set of filter criteria. The present invention is highly flexible and can be designed to work with any type of electronic message including e-mail, voice mail, facsimile etc. Furthermore, the enhanced messaging services are transparent to the typical messaging services in use today so that subscribers are not required to change messaging services or learn a new system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to generate a unique code for a message and then allows easy and direct access to the content of that specific message. The unique code is transmitted in a message alert, which may be implemented for a variety of media. In particular, according to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and system for enhanced messaging services incorporating the capability of alerting a message service subscriber to the receipt of high priority messages according to a defined set of filter criteria. The present invention is highly flexible and can be designed to work with any type of electronic message including e-mail, voice mail, facsimile etc. Furthermore, the enhanced messaging services are transparent to the typical messaging services in use today so that subscribers are not required to change messaging services or learn a new system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system to generate a unique code for a message and then allows easy and direct access to the content of that specific message. The unique code is transmitted in a message alert, which may be implemented for a variety of media. In particular, according to one embodiment, the present invention provides a method and system for enhanced messaging services incorporating the capability of alerting a message service subscriber to the receipt of high priority messages according to a defined set of filter criteria. The present invention is highly flexible and can be designed to work with any type of electronic message including e-mail, voice mail, facsimile etc. Furthermore, the enhanced messaging services are transparent to the typical messaging services in use today so that subscribers are not required to change messaging services or learn a new system.

Abstract: A voice-ringing system is provided. The traditional telephone ring for notifying a called party of an incoming phone call is replaced by a short verbal announcement that is provided by the calling party when placing the phone call. In a manner similar to traditional telephone ringing, the announcement is repeated until the call is answered or until the caller abandons the unanswered call. One implementation for the voice-ringing system is to utilize the Internet as a signaling channel. The calling party establishes a call by utilizing a communications device that is connected to both the Internet and to a voice network. The verbal announcement is sent to the called party as a signal transmitted over the Internet. The called party hears the voice ring on a communications device that is also connected to both the Internet and a voice network. When the called party indicates that the call should be accepted, a return signal is sent to the calling party's communication device.

Abstract: A message sender status monitor is used to determine the communication status of the sender of an electronic message. In the case of email, upon the recipient opening an email, a query is launched to a “status registry” to determine if the sender of the email is currently logged in to the communication network, or if the sender is currently on the telephone, or currently using a cell phone, etc. This status information is then used by the recipient of the email to determine the communication medium used to send a reply to the email sender. For example, if the status information indicates that the message sender is currently logged in to the data network, the recipient can respond using “instant messaging” (considered, therefore, to be a more efficient type of response that merely responding with an email message).

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is disclosed for synchronously delivering complementary data to two devices. Complementary data is used herein to designate at least two streams of related data that, when combined, form an organic whole. In one embodiment of the disclosed invention, a command is received through a network for the synchronous transmission of complementary data. Subsequently, first data is transmitted through the network to a first device synchronized with transmission of second data to a second device, wherein the first and second data are complementary data.

Abstract: A bookmarking system is provided that includes a user input device and a network server. A person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference. The viewer utilizes the user input device to communicate to the network server the identity of the program of interest. The network server uses the identification information for the program of interest to identify a URL for the archived version of the program. The network server transmits the URL for the archived program to the personal computer of the viewer.

Abstract: A bookmarking system is provided that includes a user input device and a network server. A person who is viewing a program, e.g., watching a network news program on television, can bookmark an archived version of that program for future reference. The viewer utilizes the user input device to communicate to the network server the identity of the program of interest. The network server uses the identification information for the program of interest to identify a URL for the archived version of the program. The network server transmits the URL for the archived program to the personal computer of the viewer.

Abstract: A communications system facilitates transactions between a sender and a plurality of recipients as part of an electronic messaging system. Messaging means enable a sender to form an electronic template containing a message in the form of a structured response object for a recipient as part of a transaction between a sender and a recipient(s). Controller means receive and store the message in a virtual mailbox assigned to the transaction for access by the sender and the recipient(s). The controller means generate and send to the recipients an indicator or pointer identifying the message at an address for the virtual mailbox. The recipient(s) use the pointer address to view the electronic message in the form of a structured object response at the virtual mailbox in the controller. The recipient may ignore or file the message or send a response to the virtual mailbox. The response or lack of response to the structured object response by the recipient (s) is tracked and recorded by the controller.

Abstract: A system and method for providing structured tours of hypertext files. A server controls the presentation of hypertext files to a user. Accompanying information to the hypertext files in the form of an automated tour guide is presented and synchronized with the hypertext files by the tour server. A user may depart from the structured tour to explore linked files for a predetermined period of time, and may effect the content and order of the tour by indicating preferences at predetermined points along the tour. More than one user may take a tour, and the users on a tour may communicate with each other. Items may be purchased on a tour, and the user may send postcards based upon visited hypertext files to other users.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing the amount of junk e-mail received by a user of an e-mail system. A recipient description containing non-address information is added to an e-mail message. The user has an e-mail filter which has access to information which provides a model of the user. The e-mail filter uses the non-address information and the model information to determine whether the e-mail message should be provided to the user. The e-mail filter further has access to information which provides models of the user's correspondents. If the filter does not provide the message to the user, it uses the non-address information and the model information of the user's correspondents to determine who the message might be forwarded to. A sender of e-mail can also use the model information of the sender's correspondents together with the non-address information to determine who the message should be sent to. The techniques are used in a system for locating expertise.

Abstract: Written material is read at low cost by a computer-based system which is designed to receive via a telephone line a facsimile of the written material submitted by a system user. Once the facsimile is received, the system performs an optical character recognition (OCR) process thereon. The text thus identified by the OCR process is converted to intelligent speech using a speech synthesizer. The synthesized speech is communicated back to the system user either over the already established telephone connection or in a subsequent call.