Abstract: A computer-implemented method for negotiating a time and a medium for communications between users is described. The method is performed at a server including one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs. The method includes receiving a request from a first user to negotiate a time and a medium for communication with a second user. The request includes a plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method also includes generating a first notification based on the request. The first notification includes the plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method furthermore includes transmitting the first notification to the second user, and receiving a response to the first notification from the second user. The response indicates whether the second user has accepted one of the acceptable mediums of communication.

Abstract: A computer system is coupled to a plurality of subscribers via a network. The computer system obtains first presence information that corresponds to a first calendar of a user and obtains second presence information that corresponds to a second calendar of the user that is different from the first calendar. The computer system determines one or more presence states of the user including determining, based on presence information for the user that includes the first presence information and the second presence information, a first presence state of the user. The computer system provides the respective presence state of the user, selected from the one or more presence states of the user, to the subscribers via the network.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to systems and methods that estimate a user's affect and communication preferences from presence data. The exemplary embodiments use a small set of features derived from a user's recent high level presence states. Exemplary embodiments also use features from broader classes of presence data. Utilizing features from a combination of presence data and recent presence states may provide improvement over estimates that users are able to make themselves. The exemplary embodiments further consider cost, burden on the user, and privacy issues in estimating affect and communication preferences.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a presence state of a person. A plurality of data feeds is received. A subset of the plurality of data feeds that includes data regarding presence states of a first person is identified. The subset of the plurality of data feeds are analyzed to determine a plurality of presence states of the first person, wherein a respective presence state of the first person is determined from a respective data feed in the subset of the plurality of data feeds. One or more presence states of the plurality of presence states are reported to subscribers via the network.

Abstract: A computer system is coupled to a plurality of subscribers via a network. The computer system obtains first presence information that corresponds to a first calendar of a user and obtains second presence information that corresponds to a second calendar of the user that is different from the first calendar. The computer system determines one or more presence states of the user including determining, based on presence information for the user that includes the first presence information and the second presence information, a first presence state of the user. The computer system provides the respective presence state of the user, selected from the one or more presence states of the user, to the subscribers via the network.

Abstract: System and method for creating an information-free zone (“hole”) in the content displayed in the area of the display where the finger touches it. The content previously displayed in the hole is pushed to the sides around the hole and thereby remains visible. This avoids the occlusion of the content and allows the user to place the cursor on the display accurately.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments described herein are directed to systems and methods that estimate a user's affect and communication preferences from presence data. The exemplary embodiments use a small set of features derived from a user's recent high level presence states. Exemplary embodiments also use features from broader classes of presence data. Utilizing features from a combination of presence data and recent presence states may provide improvement over estimates that users are able to make themselves. The exemplary embodiments further consider cost, burden on the user, and privacy issues in estimating affect and communication preferences.

Abstract: Gesture-based methods of managing communications of a user participating in communication sessions permit the user to easily manage the communications sessions by defining gestures, defining a meaning of the gesture, and outputting the meaning of the gesture to a communication session when the gesture is detected. The gestures may be contextually dependent, such that a single gesture may generate different output, and may be unconventional to eliminate confusion during gesturing during the communication sessions, and thereby the communications sessions may be more effectively managed.

Abstract: A system for measuring a pulse and respiratory rate from passive thermal video includes contour segmentation and tracking, clustering of informative pixels of interests, and robust dominant frequency component estimation. Contour segmentation is used to locate a blood vessel region to measure, after which all pixels in the nearby region are aligned across frames based on the segmentation's position, and scale in each frame. Spatial filtering is then performed to remove noise not related to heart beat and then non-linear filtering is performed on the temporal signal corresponding to each aligned pixel. The signal spectrum of each pixel is then feed to a clustering algorithm for outlier removal. Pixels in the largest cluster are then used to vote for the dominant frequency, and the median of the dominant frequency is output as the pulse rate.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for negotiating a time and a medium for communications between users is described. The method is performed at a server including one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs. The method includes receiving a request from a first user to negotiate a time and a medium for communication with a second user. The request includes a plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method also includes generating a first notification based on the request. The first notification includes the plurality of acceptable mediums of communication. The method furthermore includes transmitting the first notification to the second user, and receiving a response to the first notification from the second user. The response indicates whether the second user has accepted one of the acceptable mediums of communication.

Abstract: A system and method for determining a presence state of a person. A plurality of data feeds is received. A subset of the plurality of data feeds that includes data regarding presence states of a first person is identified. The subset of the plurality of data feeds are analyzed to determine a plurality of presence states of the first person, wherein a respective presence state of the first person is determined from a respective data feed in the subset of the plurality of data feeds. One or more presence states of the plurality of presence states are reported to subscribers via the network.

Abstract: System and method for creating an information-free zone (“hole”) in the content displayed in the area of the display where the finger touches it. The content previously displayed in the hole is pushed to the sides around the hole and thereby remains visible. This avoids the occlusion of the content and allows the user to place the cursor on the display accurately.

Abstract: System and method for creating an information-free zone (“hole”) in the content displayed in the area of the display where the finger touches it. The content previously displayed in the hole is pushed to the sides around the hole and thereby remains visible. This avoids the occlusion of the content and allows the user to place the cursor on the display accurately.

Abstract: A system for measuring a pulse and respiratory rate from passive thermal video includes contour segmentation and tracking, clustering of informative pixels of interests, and robust dominant frequency component estimation. Contour segmentation is used to locate a blood vessel region to measure, after which all pixels in the nearby region are aligned across frames based on the segmentation's position, and scale in each frame. Spatial filtering is then performed to remove noise not related to heart beat and then non-linear filtering is performed on the temporal signal corresponding to each aligned pixel. The signal spectrum of each pixel is then feed to a clustering algorithm for outlier removal. Pixels in the largest cluster are then used to vote for the dominant frequency, and the median of the dominant frequency is output as the pulse rate.

Abstract: Video recording technology is utilized to enable business process investigation in an unobtrusive manner. Several cameras are situated, each having a defined field of view. For each camera, a region of interest (ROI) within the field of view is defined, and a background image is determined for each ROI. Motion within the ROI is detected by comparing each frame to the background image. The video recording can then be segmented and indexed according to the motion detection.