Abstract: An instant messaging system generates an instant messaging application user interface display object enabling the user to select one or more buddies, or a predefined group from their buddy list, and then to select a file to share with the selected buddies or group. The instant messaging system then controls sharing of the file within the selected buddies or group, by allowing only one of the sharing users to check out and modify the shared document at a given time. The instant messaging system user interface displayed to each user also displays the list of files that are shared with that user. The instant messaging system user interface further provides a current status for each shared file, including an indication of one of the sharing users that currently has the shared file checked out.

Abstract: An instant messaging system generates an instant messaging application user interface display object enabling the user to select one or more buddies, or a predefined group from their buddy list, and then to select a file to share with the selected buddies or group. The instant messaging system then controls sharing of the file within the selected buddies or group, by allowing only one of the sharing users to check out and modify the shared document at a given time. The instant messaging system user interface displayed to each user also displays the list of files that are shared with that user. The instant messaging system user interface further provides a current status for each shared file, including an indication of one of the sharing users that currently has the shared file checked out.

Abstract: An instant messaging system generates an instant messaging application user interface display object enabling the user to select one or more buddies, or a predefined group from their buddy list, and then to select a file to share with the selected buddies or group. The instant messaging system then controls sharing of the file within the selected buddies or group, by allowing only one of the sharing users to check out and modify the shared document at a given time. The instant messaging system user interface displayed to each user also displays the list of files that are shared with that user. The instant messaging system user interface further provides a current status for each shared file, including an indication of one of the sharing users that currently has the shared file checked out.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for synchronizing copies of a shared file used by different communication session participants is presented. A shared file that is used by a first communication session participant and a second communication session participant is identified. The first and second communication participants each use a separate copy of the shared file. In response to detecting a communication session between the first and second communication session participants, the separate copies of the shared file are automatically synchronized.

Abstract: Described is a method for allocating a central application resource. Upon a determination that a user has depleted an allocation of the resource, a request for an additional allocation of the resource is generated. The user is a member of a group of users that is a subset of all users of the central application resource. After determining that the request is valid according to a policy defining rules for allocation relevant to the user, the additional allocation is provided to the user. An allocation of the resource is reduced for one or more other users in the group so that a total allocation of the resource for the group remains unchanged.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for improved type-ahead functionality in a type-ahead field based on activity of a user within a user interface. The method includes identifying a user activity context including one or more activities of a user within a user interface. Each activity includes an associated recipient identifier. The method includes determining a set of potential recipients based on the user activity context. Each potential recipient corresponds to one or more associated recipient identifiers from the user activity context. The method includes registering the set of potential recipients with one or more type-ahead modules of the user interface. The one or more type-ahead modules suggest one or more recipients from the set of potential recipients to autocomplete a type-ahead field managed by the one or more type-ahead modules.

Abstract: In a calendar messaging method and system, a calendar application executing on a computer receives a command to activate an out-of-office status, and receives one or more selected calendar events. The method and system further include automatically updating the calendar events, wherein the updating includes at least one of canceling the calendar events, and removing the user as an invitee of the calendar events. An out-of-office message is then automatically sent to at least one recipient indicating a type of update made to one or more of the calendar events.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling preferences for messages that includes receiving a message from a sender to a recipient, determining if the message will be received by the recipient based on message policies for the recipient, and notifying the sender that the message will not be received by the recipient and when it will be received responsive to the determination that the message will not be received by the recipient.

Abstract: Automatic conversion of an email thread (or another form of electronic communication, such as IM chat content) into a collaborative workspace can begin with the detection of the addition of a reply message to an existing email thread by an email conversion handler. The existing email thread can include a main message and one or more reply messages. Satisfaction of user-defined or administrator-defined conversion criteria can then be assessed for the existing email thread. When the conversion criteria are satisfied, the existing email thread can be automatically converted into an artifact of a collaborative workspace contained within a collaborative environment. The collaborative workspace can be specific to the existing email thread. The designated participants of the existing email thread can be members of both the email and collaboration systems, and can be provided access to the collaborative workspace.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and computer program product for managing scheduling of appointments with respect to a quorum requirement. The solution includes scheduling an appointment with each of a plurality of invitees, receiving one or more appointment management requests associated with the appointment from the invitees, the one or more appointment management requests including a change in the appointment, determining that a subset of the appointment management requests constitute a common request, determining that invitees that sent the common request satisfy the quorum constraint for the appointment, and implementing the common request in response to invitees that sent the common request satisfying the quorum constraint. The common request may include an acceptance, a cancellation notice, a cancellation request, and a re-scheduling request.

Abstract: Meeting management software can include a moderator assigner module. The moderator assigner can include a moderator failover capability and a moderator failback capability. The moderator failover capability can substitute a replacement for a moderator when the moderator is determined to be unavailable for a scheduled meeting. The moderator failback capability can substitute a moderator for a replacement when a believed to be unavailable moderator is determined to be available for a scheduled meeting for which the replacement has been established.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing data storage according to collaborative activity can include determining collaborative activity for each of a plurality of data items associated with a first user and stored within a first data storage device. The method can include calculating a measure of relevancy for each of the plurality of data items according to the collaborative activity and comparing the measure of relevancy of each of the plurality of data items to at least one relevancy threshold. Different ones of the plurality of data items can be selectively migrated from the first data storage device to a second data storage device according to the comparison of the measure of relevancy of each of the plurality of data items.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of task scheduling can include receiving an input from a user, wherein the input specifies a task comprising a due date and determining whether the task includes supplemental scheduling information. When the task does not include supplemental scheduling information, a first calendar event corresponding to the task can be created and stored within memory within a calendar of the user scheduled on the date. When the task does specify supplemental scheduling information, at least a first calendar event corresponding to the task can be created and stored, within memory, within a calendar of the user scheduled according to the date and the supplemental scheduling information. Calendar events created for a task that conflict with other calendar events can be dynamically rescheduled.

Abstract: A method for conducting automated persistent searches with notifications includes receiving user inputted topic search criteria; receiving user inputted notification criteria; receiving user inputted search preferences; determining information content sources and collaborative environments to search in response to the user inputted topic search criteria; determining user context information from an event with a defined time of occurrence in response to user input or from a user's calendar and scheduling application; wherein user context information defines a period of relevancy for retrieved information content from a persistent search; performing a persistent search until an exit criteria is met by repeatedly interrogating the determined information content sources and the collaborative environments while taking into account the user's context information; and sending one or more notifications to one or more users upon meeting the exit criteria.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method and system for accessing textual widgets. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: entering a string expression into a document; invoking a spell-checker to check a spelling of the string expression; marking the string expression as misspelled; identifying a textual widget based on the misspelling of the string expression; evaluating the misspelled string expression using the identified textual widget, the identified textual widget returning at least one result of the evaluation; displaying the at least one result of the evaluation; selecting a result of the evaluation; and replacing the string expression in the document with the selected result of the evaluation.

Abstract: Autonomic summarization of content may include receiving information regarding an action, generating metadata content related to the action, storing the metadata content, and performing a search of the stored metadata content to find information on the performed action. Also included is an apparatus for autonomic summarization of content including a summarization engine, the summarization configured to autonomically generate meta data related to an activity, a repository, the repository configured to store the generated meta data, and a processor, the processor configured to receive a query and use the query to search for meta data associated with the activity.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a social network for locating a target individual based upon a proximity search can be provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of utilizing a social network for locating a target individual based upon proximity search can include identifying a geographic location for a mobile computing device of a target individual, retrieving a list of contacts from a social network associated with the target individual, generating a subset of the contacts according to a proximity of available ones of the contacts to the identified geographic location for the mobile computing device, and prompting at least one of the contacts in the subset to alert the target individual.

Abstract: A method for providing electronic introductions includes providing, with an electronic communication, an electronic introduction that gives additional information regarding a party to the electronic communication that is in addition to the electronic identification of that party. A system for providing an electronic introduction may include a computer configured to search at least one database for information about a party being introduced and compile an electronic introduction for the party incorporating the information; and an electronic communication function configured to provide access to the electronic introduction to a recipient of an electronic communication sent by the party using the electronic communication function.

Abstract: A computer program product provides collaborative accountability in meeting workflows by including appropriate notification and endorsement of workflow events by an accountability network which includes supervisors in an organizational hierarchy. Workflow events may include invitations to attend meetings, delegations of those invitations, meeting attendance, and action items generated within meetings.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method, system, device, and/or computer program for managing ancillary relationships in an organization. The invention can include a social network graph, a directory services data store, and an ancillary relationship coordinator. The social network graph can graphically illustrate the relationships, both direct and ancillary, between members of the organization. The directory services data store can be configured to contain a directory services tree corresponding to the social network graph. The ancillary relationship coordinator can be configured to automatically identify and manage the ancillary relationships between the members of the organization. The ancillary relationship coordinator can incorporate information pertaining to the ancillary relationships into the social network graph and the directory services data store.