Abstract: A content management system (CMS) includes a content modification mechanism that checks a modification contract corresponding to a component in the repository, and determines if all relevant criteria in the modification contract corresponding to the component are satisfied before making changes to or allowing reuse of a component in the repository. The modification contract may specify a profile of authors that are allowed to modify the corresponding component. The content management system includes an author profile update mechanism that monitors modifications by authors to components in the repository, and automatically adjusts a profile of each author according to modifications made by the author. In this manner the rank of authors is automatically adjusted and the modification of components is controlled in a way that allows modification by those who are authorized yet restricts modification by those who are not authorized.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) includes a content reuse mechanism that checks a reuse contract corresponding to a component in the repository, and determines if all relevant criteria in the reuse contract corresponding to the component are satisfied before allowing reuse of a component in the repository. In this manner the reuse of components is controlled in a way that allows reuse when stated criteria in the reuse contract are satisfied yet restricts reuse when the criteria in the reuse contract are not satisfied.

Abstract: A method, meeting scheduler and computer program product are provided for automated meeting scheduling using delegates, representatives, quorums, and teams. Meeting settings and invitees data are stored for a meeting. The meeting settings and invitees data includes invitee attendance type, delegates, representatives, quorums, and teams data. A solution time block for automated meeting scheduling including at least a subset of a plurality of selected invitees is identified utilizing the invitee attendance type, delegates, representatives, quorums, and teams data. A selection score is calculated for each potential time block for automated meeting scheduling utilizing the stored meeting settings and invitees data including the invitee attendance type, delegates, representatives, quorums, and teams data. The solution time block for automated meeting scheduling including a subset of a plurality of selected invitees is identified utilizing the calculated selection score.

Abstract: An intelligent agent and method of negotiating therewith incorporate a number of features, used alone or in combination, to enhance the productivity, security, efficiency and responsiveness of the agent in negotiations with other parties. One feature incorporates randomization of one or more aspects of an agent's behavior to disguise its negotiation strategy from other negotiating parties and thereby prevent such parties from gaining a negotiating advantage at the expense of the agent. Another features incorporates limiting unproductive negotiations by constraining one or more aspects of an agent's behavior based upon the behavior of a negotiating party and/or the duration of the transaction, and thereby making it more likely that unproductive negotiations will be terminated. An additional feature incorporates dynamic value determination to determine the desired value of a desired transaction by weighting and normalizing estimated values retrieved from a plurality of information sources.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture that improves the chance of getting an answer to a broadcast chat by sending the messages in subscribers in periodically delayed groups. If a group of subscribers does not produce enough suitable answers, the present invention will then rebroadcast the inquiry to another group of subscribers. This process will continue until enough suitable answers are received.

Abstract: The availability of one or more databases targeted by a federated query may be determined prior to running the federated query against the targeted databases. In response to determining one or more of the targeted databases are unavailable, a user may be notified. The user may also be presented with options for running the federated query. The options may include being notified when all of the targeted databases are available, automatically running the federated query (in the background) when all of the targeted databases are available, and modifying the query to run against currently available databases.

Abstract: A method and system for displaying annotations is provided. The method includes displaying current data to a user through a GUI, displaying at least one of current and historic annotations to a user through the GUI, providing a user selectable link between the historic annotations and historic data associated with the historic annotation, and displaying the historic data to the user through the GUI when the user selectable link is activated by the user.

Abstract: A method of providing rebroadcast programming includes encoding a rebroadcast program, specifying a preferred play time, and providing a broadcast that fits the preferred play time. The encoding of the rebroadcast program can use a replay plan which prioritizes portions of the rebroadcast. A priority can be assigned to commercials which have been made to be shortened or dropped, or an alternative commercial substituted, depending on time limitations. A rebroadcast packaging and playlist are provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reading a web page according to a set of user-configurable settings. In one embodiment, a set of user-configurable settings configured for reading the web page is determined. An initial reading position on the web page is determined as specified by the user-configurable settings. The web page is then read from the initial reading position according to the set of user-configurable settings.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize automated analysis techniques to assist in the determination of acceptable usages of linguistic terms (e.g., words, phrases, acronyms, etc.). In particular, an acceptable usage of a linguistic term in a document on the Internet may be determined by detecting a spell definition tag in the document. In response to detecting the spell definition tag, automatically adding the acceptable variant of the linguistic term to an electronic dictionary.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide method, system, and computer readable storage medium for providing an audio motion feedback to a user of a simulated three-dimensional (“3D”) environment, where the user controls an entity within the simulated 3D environment. A plurality of gridlines is projected over the simulated 3D environment to form a virtual 3D grid. A crossing of at least one boundary point by the entity is detected, wherein the boundary point is located on or within a threshold distance from at least one of the plurality of the projected gridlines. At least one boundary point type of the crossed boundary point is determined. At least one audio motion signal associated with the determined boundary point type is generated, thus providing audio motion feedback to the user regarding the entity's movements in the simulated 3D environment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to enhance the presentation of a virtual environment for certain users, e.g., a visually impaired user. Because users may visit, and revisit, locations within the virtual environment, the state of elements in the virtual environment may change. Accordingly, audible descriptions of an object, person or environment, may be adjusted to prevent redundant or unnecessary descriptions. For example, when the user encounters a given element a second time, rather than describe each characteristic of the element, only changes to the characteristics of the element are described.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) includes a content reuse mechanism that checks a reuse contract corresponding to a component in the repository, and determines if all relevant criteria in the reuse contract corresponding to the component are satisfied before allowing reuse of a component in the repository. In this manner the reuse of components is controlled in a way that allows reuse when stated criteria in the reuse contract are satisfied yet restricts reuse when the criteria in the reuse contract are not satisfied.

Abstract: A content management system (CMS) includes a content modification mechanism that checks a modification contract corresponding to a component in the repository, and determines if all relevant criteria in the modification contract corresponding to the component are satisfied before making changes to or allowing reuse of a component in the repository. The modification contract may specify a profile of authors that are allowed to modify the corresponding component. The content management system includes an author profile update mechanism that monitors modifications by authors to components in the repository, and automatically adjusts a profile of each author according to modifications made by the author. In this manner the rank of authors is automatically adjusted and the modification of components is controlled in a way that allows modification by those who are authorized yet restricts modification by those who are not authorized.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for describing elements within a virtual world to a user of the virtual world. An element may be identified based on a position of an avatar within the virtual world. The avatar is a representation of the user within the virtual world. A tag associated with the element is selected. The tag includes a description of the element. The element is described to the user based on the description.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for describing elements within a virtual world to a user of the virtual world. An element may be identified based on a position of an avatar within the virtual world. The avatar is a representation of the user within the virtual world. A tag associated with the element is selected. The tag includes a description of the element. The element is described to the user based on the description.

Abstract: A document and image management system that can manage handwritten comments and/or edits on conventional paper. The invention may be embodied as an enhanced photocopier adapted to locate and classify handwritten notations using optical character recognition techniques. This embodiment allows the user to select options to selectively copy only those pages with notations, to create an index of handwritten notations, to add side margin locator marks to the document, and to compare subsequent comments on different drafts.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize automated analysis techniques to assist in the determination of acceptable usages of linguistic terms (e.g., words, phrases, acronyms, etc.). In particular, an acceptable usage of a linguistic term may be determined by scanning a plurality of documents for variants (e.g., based on differing spellings, punctuation, capitalization, meaning or definition, etc.) of the term, and tracking relative occurrences of a plurality of such variants found in the plurality of documents during scanning. By tracking occurrences of linguistic term variants, users may be able to use such statistical information to select which of the available variants represents an acceptable usage, or even a most acceptable usage, of a term. Scanned documents may be retrieved from the Internet, and scanning may occur while a user is browsing the Internet.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, system and data structure providing a chained or compound URL including a base URL and all subsequent navigation steps necessary to access a desired resource such as a responsively instantiated resource or framed resource.

Abstract: A content management system provides a way to detect a change to one part of a document, and to generate a corresponding change in a different part of the same document. Dynamic inclusion rules define conditions that, when satisfied, allow automatically changing a link in a document to a new link when corresponding data in the document is added or changed. If a change corresponds to a defined dynamic inclusion rule, a corresponding query in the rule is evaluated according to the changes in the document. When there is enough information to run the query, the query is automatically executed in a background process. If there is a single link that satisfies the query, the document may be updated with the new link. If multiple links satisfy the query, the top ranked query result may be automatically selected, or the user may select which link should be included in the document.