Abstract: A method and meeting scheduler are provided for automated meeting insertion and rescheduling for busy calendars. An electronic calendar meeting scheduling program stores meeting automation properties defined for each scheduled meeting. The electronic calendar meeting scheduling program stores meeting attendee automation properties defined for each attendee of each scheduled meeting. The electronic calendar meeting scheduling program utilizes the stored meeting automation properties and the stored meeting attendee automation properties to calculate a conflict score and action list for each potential time block for automated meeting insertion and rescheduling. The calculated conflict score and action list for each potential time block for rescheduling a meeting are based upon multiple factors including a move score, a leave early score, and a shorten meeting score. The action list includes an entry for each meeting altered for automated meeting insertion and rescheduling.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture adapted to control output from one or more output devices connected to a data processing system disposed in a vehicle is provided. Illustrative output devices include a radio, a compact disc player, an internet-enabled device and the like. The output is adjusted according to the remaining travel time from a current position of the vehicle relative to a destination point or the elapsed time from an origination point.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, system, and program product for utilizing metawords to find electronic documents. According to the method of the present invention, a user specifies an initial search expression that includes at least one metaword. It is determined that the at least one metaword corresponds to a boolean expression, and, in response, an expanded search expression is generated. The expanded search expression includes the boolean expression in lieu of the at least one metaword, such that the expanded search expression is utilized in lieu of the initial search expression to find the electronic documents. In an illustrative embodiment, the determining step includes the step of determining that one or more terms and a count qualifier are associated with the at least one metaword. The count qualifier specifies a threshold number of occurrences of the one or more terms within a single electronic document.

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: A search system and method for performing group-based searches. The system comprises a client system having a browser and a search engine plug-in, wherein the search engine plug-in allows group members to generate nomination data by nominating web pages; and a server having a control program and a group structure for storing nomination data, wherein the control program generates a primary search result list based on a search index, and further refines the search result list based on the stored nomination data.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing collaborative bookmarks and synchronized bookmark lists. A bookmark list is created. User selected changes are identified and the bookmark list is updated. A bookmark list is received by a user. The received bookmark list and changed elements of the bookmark list can be automatically stored. A server can be used to maintain the collaborative bookmarks and synchronized bookmark lists. Alternatively, embedded update records can be created in e-mail and bookmark lists are synchronized by sending e-mail messages to each participant. Proposed changes are distributed to the participants for the bookmarks list. Nominated changes and approved changes are identified. Opinions of the participants are recorded, tallied and displayed. The bookmark list can be updated responsive to group approval.

Abstract: A data processing system that manages operator intercommunication in a collaborative data processing environment is capable of receiving first and second messages and respectively associated first and second sub-topic identifiers from a discussion forum, displaying each message associated with the first sub-topic identifier in a message window utilizing a first presentation format, and displaying each message associated with the second sub-topic identifier in the message window utilizing a second presentation format. In an illustrative embodiment, each message associated with the first sub-topic identifier is displayed in a first column in the message window and each message associated with the second sub-topic identifier is displayed in a second column in the message window.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for locating electronic documents by allowing a user to specify, prioritize and control the order of a resulting hit list at the front end of a search are provided. One embodiment provides a method for searching electronic documents, comprising: receiving a search expression including one or more search terms having one or more weight criteria, wherein the one or more weight criteria include a user designated score modifier; finding one or more candidate documents based on the search expression; calculating a score for each candidate document according to the one or more weight criteria; and transmitting information for displaying a list of the one or more candidate documents reflecting the calculated scores. The weight criteria may be selected from a location of the one or more search terms, a format of the one or more search terms, and a frequency count of the one or more search terms.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product implement preselection announce for user selectable buttons in a computer system. The computer system includes a processor coupled to the multiple user selectable buttons and a memory for storing a preselection announce program and a button record for each of the multiple user selectable buttons. The processor monitors for a button touch. Responsive to identifying a button touch, a function for the button is identified and audio data for the button is announced. Responsive to identifying a button touch, video data for the button also is displayed. The processor checks for a button press and responsive to identifying a button press, performs the function for the user-selected button.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are provided for implementing acronym assistance for a user of a text editor or browser program. An acronym in a text document is identified. Then the text document is scanned to identify a definition of the acronym. Responsive to identifying the definition of the acronym, the definition of the acronym is displayed to the user. Acronym assistance is provided for a reader and a writer using the text program. Both an acronym dictionary and an acronym collection file can be used to identify the definition of the acronym. User selected options are provided for displaying the definition of the acronym to the user. For a writer using the text program, the definition of the acronym can be provided in-line in the document text. A footnote definition of the acronym can be provided with a reference to an original acronym definition.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing collaborative bookmarks and synchronized bookmark lists. A bookmark list is created. User selected changes are identified and the bookmark list is updated. A bookmark list is received by a user. The received bookmark list and changed elements of the bookmark list can be automatically stored. A server can be used to maintain the collaborative bookmarks and synchronized bookmark lists. Alternatively, embedded update records can be created in e-mail and bookmark lists are synchronized by sending e-mail messages to each participant. Proposed changes are distributed to the participants for the bookmarks list. Nominated changes and approved changes are identified. Opinions of the participants are recorded, tallied and displayed. The bookmark list can be updated responsive to group approval.

Abstract: A syntax checker that simultaneously provides real-time feedback to the user regarding more than one syntactic requirement is disclosed. The syntax checker can be configured by the user to provide feedback about certain rules or rule sets and to omit feedback for other rules or rule sets. Also disclosed is a password validation mechanism that checks a submitted password string against the requirements of more than one password-protected resource and provides visual feedback to the user regarding success or failure. This visual feedback is provided using three different visual cues.

Abstract: A mechanism for automatically generating icons. In the preferred embodiment, a browser displays a web page in a window on a display screen. The browser selects a subset of the page, and transforms the subset to an icon. The browser then displays the icon, which represents the browser and the page, on the display screen. Thus, when multiple invocations of the browser are active, each invocation will have a different, associated icon, depending on each invocation's current page. In this way, the user can easily distinguish between the browser invocations by viewing the different icons.

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: Method for providing at least a portion of a disguised password in an undisguised form is described. More particularly, a program is described having a capability of displaying a single character at a time, more than one character at a time or all of otherwise disguised characters of a password in an undisguised form in response to a successful pre-password check.

Abstract: An intelligent agent and method of negotiating herewith 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, computer program product and system are provided for remote surfing control for television viewing. User input selections are received for defining a profile. The profile includes at least one channel list. Responsive to identifying a user input surfing selection, a channel list is identified from the profile. The identified channel list is used for selecting a channel responsive to the user input surfing selection. A surfing mode and a timer event are set responsive to the user input surfing selection. Other events, each including an event date and time and selected channel, are set responsive to user input selections. When an event including a timer event is identified, an audible signal is issued for the viewer, and a predefined viewing channel is set. When an event is identified and the television is off, the television is powered on and checking for a user acknowledgment signal is performed.

Abstract: An intelligent method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for providing a digital document user role indication. A user role profile for a user is stored. Selecting rules are utilized for identifying one of the plurality of roles from the stored user role profile. Responsive to the applying the selecting rules, a selected user role indication is appended to a digital document. The user role indication can be selected based upon document content, a time of day value, and/or send lists for the digital document. Multiple user selected settings can be selected for the role from a group of enviromental values including name, icon, selection sound, header, footer, opening, closing, background, encryption, signature key, and priority.

Abstract: A method and computer program product are provided for graphical user interface (GUI) organization control for extending GUI applications. An initial tabbed dialog is processed. Each page to be added to the initial tabbed dialog is identified. A location is identified for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog. A modified tabbed dialog including each added page at the respective identified location is displayed. A user selected position setting can be used to identify a location for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog. This position setting can be based upon a priority or a usage value. Also, a drag and drop routine can be used to identify a location for each identified added page to the initial tabbed dialog.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying information in a vehicle is provided. Initially, navigation information is received from at least one of a remote database via a wireless network and a local sensor. A driver attention threshold is then determined from the received navigation information. Information from a network information source is displayed in the vehicle if the driver attention threshold is exceeded by a display allowance value indicative of least one of a type of information to be displayed and a type of media to be displayed.