Abstract: Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.

Abstract: Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention provide mechanisms for enabling a new type of interactive online discussion where any number of people can participate in a discussion of a topic and having the impression of following a coherent discussion. By following a novel process described in the present invention, eventually they would collectively generate a set of statements that the majority of the participants have agreed to. Moreover, a participation performance of the participants is being kept so as to potentially regroup those best performers in a future meeting with a similar topic.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention provide mechanisms for enabling a new type of interactive online discussion where any number of people can participate in a discussion of a topic and having the impression of following a coherent discussion. By following a novel process described in the present invention, eventually they would collectively generate a set of statements that the majority of the participants have agreed to. Moreover, a participation performance of the participants is being kept so as to potentially regroup those best performers in a future meeting with a similar topic.

Abstract: Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.

Abstract: Collaborative digital media artifact production is disclosed. Included are structured collaborative digital media creation environments intended to enable communities to create full and partial digital media products. Activities such as creating individual identities, browsing identities of other users, creating and viewing digital media artifacts, tracking the development history of a digital media artifact, voting on, rating, and modifying digital media products developed by other users are included. A collaborative digital media creation system is also included for digital media artifact production, including a studio having interfaces for user interaction for community development.

Abstract: A web browsing environment that provides a graphical spatial context to associate web sites to one another and allows for interaction between users browsing the space is provided.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for facilitating electronic commerce and/or information exchange. The technique of the present invention enables a content provider to create a web space which can surface large amounts of product data into one single view. In addition, the display and layout of the web space may be dynamically customized. Further, if desired, customer specific data may be overlaid on product catalog data. In this way, customers are able to quickly grasp the extent of the virtual store and access products of interest by drilling-down on any single region of the store. Additionally, customer behavior patterns and activities may be tracked in real-time. This information may be used to enable a on-line merchant to respond appropriately, in real-time, in order to facilitate sales of merchandise to current on-line shoppers.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention provide mechanisms for enabling a new type of interactive online discussion where any number of people can participate in a discussion of a topic and having the impression of following a coherent discussion. By following a novel process described in the present invention, eventually they would collectively generate a set of statements that the majority of the participants have agreed to. Moreover, a participation performance of the participants is being kept so as to potentially regroup those best performers in a future meeting with a similar topic.

Abstract: Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.

Abstract: An authoring system and procedure for organizing photos (and other physical object types) are provided. Using the authoring system, an author organizes a set of physical objects into a particular story through an interface. Each physical object is associated with a specific identifier, such as a barcode, and the author uses an input device to scan identifiers of selected physical objects that are to be included within the particular story. The authoring process is performed off-line. Using the input device, the author adds her own commentary as part of building the story. For example, she can associate an audio clip with a particular physical object that makes up the story or with the entire story itself. In one embodiment, the input device includes a microphone for receiving voice input, as well as a barcode reader for scanning a particular barcode of a selected physical object. The author also selects one or more presentation styles that will be used to display the entire story.

Abstract: Disseminating to a participant an indication that an item accessible by the participant via a network is of current interest is disclosed. An indication that the item is of current interest is received in real time. The indication is processed. The participant is informed that the item is of current interest.

Abstract: Normalizing a measure of the level of current interest of an item that is based on indications of interest received from one or more users of a network via which the item is accessible is disclosed. In one embodiment, an intensity value is determined for each successive indication of interest received with respect to an item. At the time each successive indication of interest with respect to the item is received, an intensity rank based at least in part on the intensity value of the received indication is calculated. The calculated intensity rank is multiplied by a normalization factor to determine a normalized intensity rank.

Abstract: A web browsing environment that provides a graphical spatial context to associate web sites to one another and allows for interaction between users browsing the space is provided. One feature of the described embodiment is the provision of a tiling of mini browsers in one space rather than a document.

Abstract: Quantifying the level of interest of an item of current interest is disclosed. An indication that an item is of current interest is received. The indication is processed to determine an intensity value. The intensity value is stored.

Abstract: A web browsing environment that provides for visual and interactive mapping techniques to enable users to organize, visualize and navigate complex information spaces. The Urbanpixel system supports atomic units of information organized into a tiled browser environment. The system's mapping technology allows the information environment to be surfaced into a global, active map view. Because the system supports a process of data abstraction and the use of stylesheets to create multiple views, users can drill down on areas of interest to get views at multiple levels of detail and abstraction. The navigation model keeps a one-to-one spatial correspondence between the levels, making it easier for users to find their way around by providing spatial context at every level.

Abstract: The system described herein extends the server described in application Ser. No. 09/596,305 to allow the content of browser windows or the interaction of browser windows to affect other browser windows or to be affected by other browser windows. This system of linked browser windows allows intelligence to be added to the system specified in application Ser. No. 09/596,305. Changes affecting a browser window can now have ripple effects through the landscape for various uses, e.g., data can propagate more visibly, easily and transparently, “what-if” scenarios are possible, error and special conditions can be highlighted at a glance, etc.

Abstract: A portable computer has the features and benefits of a conventional portable computer and in addition including the added features of two larger than normal speakers, an integral microphone, a infrared transceiver and a touchscreen. The computer, also, has ports for receiving components tailored for disabled personnel including switching ports. The portable computer has a housing with an upper assembly and a lower assembly. The lower assembly has a support rib projects upward from the base and extends from one of the side walls towards the center of the lower assembly. One of the side walls has a reinforcing bar extending from generally the support rib to the front wall. A battery opening is defined by the reinforcing bar, one of the side walls and the front wall. The lower assembly defines a quadruplet of quadrants. The computer has a battery for powering the computer located in a quadrant, the battery quadrant. A hard drive and the power board are in the quadrant adjacent the battery quadrant.

Abstract: A form including user modifiable fields and an encoded description of the location, size, type, etc. of the fields allows direct programming of a form interpreter. Other information including the processing of the form, encoded data, etc., may be included in the encoded information. A system for creating forms carrying an encoded description of selected attributes of the fields includes means for selecting or creating fields and locating the fields on a form while generating, substantially simultaneously, the encoded description of the selected attributes. A form composer then allows merging of the form and its encoded description for printing or electronic transmission. A system for reading such forms includes a scanner, decoding device, and processor. By reading such forms, data may be entered into or recalled from a data processing system, or a form interpreter may be programmed, locally or remotely, for subsequent handling of forms.

Abstract: The use of blocks in a workspace window that depict various video elements on the user interface of a video editor for use on a digital computer having a CPU, memory and a video display. The blocks have the attributes that they attract or repel other blocks as a function of proximity to each other in order to reduce user errors and to improve user efficiency. The method of manipulating the blocks on the video display consists of the following steps: First, specify coordinates of interaction regions around a block to be dragged. Next, test the coordinates of the interaction regions against the coordinates of all other blocks on the video display. Next, repel the block to be dragged from specified surfaces of the other blocks in accordance with predetermined rules that specify which surfaces of the block to be dragged and which surfaces of the other blocks repel each other.