Abstract: A computer-implemented method of alerting users to collaborative activity can include receiving a user input selecting at least one of a plurality of data types to be included within a notification, wherein the plurality of data types correspond to collaborative session data exchanged during a collaborative session among a plurality of users. The method can include buffering collaborative session data during the collaborative session and responsive to detecting an occurrence of an awareness triggering event, outputting the notification comprising at least a portion of the buffered collaborative session data corresponding to the selected at least one of a plurality of data types.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of point of sale transaction processing can include determining an identity of a user at a transaction site, identifying a plurality of financial accounts associated with the user, and for each financial account, accessing account information associated with the account. The method can include identifying a vendor type for the transaction site, selecting a financial account with which to process a transaction according to the vendor type and the account information for each of the plurality of accounts, and outputting the selected financial account. A list of financial accounts and incentives may be presented from which a user may select a particular financial account for processing the transaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, system, and program product for staging content for an instant messaging (IM) chat session. In one embodiment, the invention includes entering content into a staging area and transferring the entered content from the staging area to an input area.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of conducting a multimedia conference can include identifying a participant from a plurality of participants as a descriptive audio participant in the multimedia conference and detecting a state change during the multimedia conference. The method can include correlating the state change with an audio cue and outputting the audio cue to the descriptive audio participant.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of processing a plurality of events within a calendar application can include receiving a user input specifying a period of time within a calendar associated with a user, detecting a plurality of events occurring within the period of time, and determining at least one attribute for each of the plurality of events. An event clearing technique can be selected for each of the plurality of events according to the at least one attribute of each respective event. The specified time period can be cleared by executing the selected event clearing technique for each of the plurality of events, wherein an updated calendar is generated. The updated calendar can be output.

Abstract: Time-style tags are provided. These user specified social tags automatically change as a function of time or triggering event. The invention tags include: Expiring tags that disappear after a user-specified period of time; Morphing tags that change their text after a user-specified period of time; and Appearing tags that appear in view at or about a user-specified time. Respective text of a tag is user-specified.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to user interface rendering for information objects and provide method, system and computer program product for an integrated view of multi-sourced information objects. In an embodiment of the invention, an attention manager data processing system can be provided. The system can include integrated view logic executing in a computing device and an attention manager user interface generated by program code of the integrated view logic. The user interface can include a grid of quadrants. Each quadrant can correspond to a unique combination of importance and urgency. The quadrant further can include representations of underlying information objects from multiple different sources of information objects. Correspondingly, each information object can include a respective importance and urgency consistent with a corresponding one of the quadrants.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to social bookmarking and provide a method, system and computer program product for tag syndicates in a social bookmarking system. In an embodiment of the invention, a tag syndicate method can be provided. The method can include establishing different tag syndicates, each tag syndicate providing a specified set of users of a social bookmarking system. The method further can include selecting at least one tag syndicate for use in conducting a content operation, and performing a content operation utilizing the social bookmarking system based upon the selected tag syndicate or syndicates. In this regard, the content operation can be a visible operation such as a type ahead operation, or a logical operation such as sorting content search results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to collaborative information object management and provide a method, system and computer program product for annotating collaborative information structures. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for annotating collaborative information structures can be provided. The method can include creating a collaborative information structure document (ISD) with each of an object section and an annotation section, adding a collaborative object in a collaborative computing environment to the object section of the collaborative ISD, adding an annotation for the collaborative ISD to the annotation section of the collaborative ISD, and storing the collaborative ISD for use as a collaborative object in the collaborative computing environment.

Abstract: A system for clustering electronic calendar schedules in an event scheduling user interface displays the availability of invitee clusters that each include invitees with sufficiently similar availability during a target period. An invitee cluster list includes an invitee cluster entry for each invitee cluster, such that each invitee cluster entry displays the availability for all invitees contained in the corresponding cluster, as well as the number of invitees contained in the cluster. Invitees that do not belong to any cluster are listed as individual outlier entries, such that each outlier entry displays the availability for the corresponding outlier invitee and the invitee's name. The names of invitees contained in an invitee cluster are displayed in response to user selection of the cluster entry. A degree of similarity required for invitees to be clustered together, and/or a permitted total number of clusters, may be input from a user.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving a slot request, from a second respondent having a second seniority level, for an original event slot that was previously reserved by a first respondent having a first seniority level. The second seniority level is compared to the first seniority level. If the second seniority level exceeds the first seniority level: the reservation of the original event slot by the first respondent is cancelled, and the event slot request for the original event slot by the second respondent is accepted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to service dispatch and provide a method, system and computer program product for live intention management in a computer communications network. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for live intention management can be provided. The method can include selecting a serviceable object in a service area, changing live intention metadata data for the selected serviceable object to reflect an awareness state of the serviceable object indicating that an actor intends to service but has not yet serviced the serviceable object, and displaying the serviceable object and the awareness state in a map in a graphical user interface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to distribution list management for a collaborative object and provide a method, system and computer program product for detecting exceptions for collaborative object addressing in a collaborative computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for detecting exceptions for collaborative object addressing in a collaborative computing environment can be provided. The method can include retrieving a distribution list for a collaborative object in a collaborative computing environment, comparing addressees in the distribution list to addressees in a list of previously applied addressees, and providing a notification where an addressee in the distribution list does not appear as an addressee in the list of previously applied addresses.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to icon management in a GUI and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for extensible icons with multiple drop zones. In one embodiment of the invention, an icon data processing system configured for use in a GUI can include a contracted form of an extensible icon; an expanded form of the extensible icon including multiple drop zones; and, a drag-and-drop event handler coupled to the contracted form of the extensible icon and the expanded form of the extensible icon.

Abstract: Under the present invention, interactivity metrics between users of collaborative spaces are measured. Based on the interactivity metrics, the collaborative spaces are categorized. Then, when a potential user provides desired interactivity metrics for a collaborative space he/she wishes to utilize, one or more of the categorized collaborative spaces can be recommend thereto.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for tag-based searching. One or more initial tags are entered or otherwise input by a user. The invention system determines related tags to the user entered initial tags and enables user review of the determined related tags. The user selects from the determined related tags and forms an improved tag-based search relative to the initial tags. Methods employed for determining related tags include conventional frequency of co-occurence method, a lexical method, a semantic method, a user list method, a recency method, a reference database method and a resource method. The invention method/system also allows the user to store selected components of those searches for future use/reuse. The invention also allows the user to share selected components with selected other users.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of automatically scheduling meetings can include determining that no timeslot is available for scheduling a proposed meeting involving a plurality of participants and selecting a plurality of candidate times for the proposed meeting. An inconvenience metric for each participant of the proposed meeting can be calculated. A schedule misfit metric for each of the plurality of candidate times can be calculated, at least in part, according to the inconvenience metric for each participant. A time for the proposed meeting can be selected from the candidate times according to the schedule misfit metric. The proposed meeting can be scheduled for the selected time.

Abstract: Under the present invention, interactivity metrics between users of collaborative spaces are measured. Based on the interactivity metrics, the collaborative spaces are categorized. Then, when a potential user provides desired interactivity metrics for a collaborative space he/she wishes to utilize, one or more of the categorized collaborative spaces can be recommend thereto.

Abstract: Under the present invention, interactivity metrics between users of collaborative spaces are measured. Based on the interactivity metrics, the collaborative spaces are categorized. Then, when a potential user provides desired interactivity metrics for a collaborative space he/she wishes to utilize, one or more of the categorized collaborative spaces can be recommend thereto.

Abstract: A method of assessing the value of tags in a collaborative tagging system can include monitoring user interaction with each of a plurality of tags and/or artifacts associated with tags, wherein each of the plurality of tags has been previously associated with at least one artifact of the collaborative tagging system. For each of the plurality of tags, a measure of value for the tag can be determined according to user interaction with the tag. A list comprising at least one tag and an indication of the measure of value of the tag can be output.