Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing e-mail user confidentiality. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing e-mail user confidentiality can be provided. The method can include transmitting an e-mail message for delivery to multiple e-mail users and corresponding e-mail addresses, identifying a privacy preference for a particular one of the e-mail users; and, concealing a display within the e-mail message of an e-mail address associated with the particular one of the e-mail users responsive to the privacy preference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing e-mail user confidentiality. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing e-mail user confidentiality can be provided. The method can include transmitting an e-mail message for delivery to multiple e-mail users and corresponding e-mail addresses, identifying a privacy preference for a particular one of the e-mail users; and, concealing a display within the e-mail message of an e-mail address associated with the particular one of the e-mail users responsive to the privacy preference.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and computer program product for managing e-mail user confidentiality. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for managing e-mail user confidentiality can be provided. The method can include transmitting an e-mail message for delivery to multiple e-mail users and corresponding e-mail addresses, identifying a privacy preference for a particular one of the e-mail users; and, concealing a display within the e-mail message of an e-mail address associated with the particular one of the e-mail users responsive to the privacy preference.

Abstract: A metaverse system includes a client computer coupled to a network, a metaverse server coupled to the client computer, the metaverse server to host a metaverse application, and a group link engine coupled to the server. The engine opens a group link connection in response to a request from a user. A linked group associated with the connection includes at least two linked users, and at least one of the linked users is designated as a leader, and each of the at least two linked users is associated with an avatar different from the avatar associated with the other. The engine includes a group link controller to allow the leader to control an action of a second avatar of a second user. The action of the second avatar can be viewed separately from each avatar associated with the at least one linked users that are designated as the leader.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to multi-modal chat logging management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for generating a unified chat transcript for a multi-modal conversation in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a unified chat transcript for a multi-modal conversation in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include establishing concurrent voice messaging and text messaging sessions between two conversants, receiving both voice messages and text messages between two conversants through the voice messaging and instant messaging sessions, and logging the voice messages and text messages in a single transcript of conversation between the two conversants.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to discussion forum management and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum can be provided. The method can include providing a discussion forum and initiating a thread in the discussion forum and measuring a temporal proximity of postings between two or more users in the thread. In response to determining a close temporal proximity, an instant messaging session can be launched between the two or more users and entries in the instant messaging session can be inserted as responses to the thread in the discussion form.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to question and answer management in a collaborative environment, and provide a novel and non-obvious method, system and apparatus for synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of synchronizing questions and answers in an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include maintaining an instant messaging session between first and second participants, identifying questions and answers in the instant messaging text, matching each of the answers to a corresponding one of the questions, and displaying the matched questions and answers supplementally to the displaying of the chat transcript, ensuring that a participant does not overlook a question where response on their part is required.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to jargon usage in a location in a virtual world and provide a method, system and computer program product for location and event based dictionaries to facilitate communication in location in a virtual world. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for communication facilitation in a location within the virtual world can include identifying jargon in a message exchanged in a location in a virtual world, looking up a glossary entry for the jargon in a dictionary of jargon for the location in the virtual world, and rendering the glossary entry in connection with the jargon in the message.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to instant messaging and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant messaging transcript sharing for added participants to an instant messaging session. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for instant messaging transcript sharing for added participants to an instant messaging session can be provided. The method can include establishing an instant messaging session as between a set of initial parties, aggregating postings from the initial parties into a transcript, adding a new party to the instant messaging session, and sharing at least a portion of the transcript in a transcript view for the new party. Optionally, an ability of the new party to log shared portions of the transcript can be limited or prohibited.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to discussion forum management and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum can be provided. The method can include providing a discussion forum and initiating a thread in the discussion forum and measuring a temporal proximity of postings between two or more users in the thread. In response to determining a close temporal proximity, an instant messaging session can be launched between the two or more users and entries in the instant messaging session can be inserted as responses to the thread in the discussion form.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to discussion forum management and provide a method, system and computer program product for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for instant conversations in a thread within a discussion forum can be provided. The method can include providing a discussion forum and initiating a thread in the discussion forum and measuring a temporal proximity of postings between two or more users in the thread. In response to determining a close temporal proximity, an instant messaging session can be launched between the two or more users and entries in the instant messaging session can be inserted as responses to the thread in the discussion forum.

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: A static communication can be presented efficiently in different languages to facilitate propagation of the static communication across language boundaries. A static communication object that represents a static communication can be loaded with different language encodings of the static communication. When a trigger occurs (e.g., an avatar accesses the static communication object), a language encoding of the static communication that can be understood by the avatar is presented to the avatar. As the static communication propagates throughout the virtual universe, additional language encodings can be added to the static communication object.

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: A system, method and program product for collecting image data from within a metaverse. A system is provided that includes: a graphical user interface (GUI) for allowing a user to install and administer a camera within the metaverse; a system for collecting image data from the camera based on an occurrence of a triggering event associated with the camera; and a system for storing or delivering the image data for the user.