Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for providing information for avoiding specific users of an immersive virtual environment. Generally, a primary user may specify other users to be avoided in a blacklist. The blacklisted users may be specified to be avoided at all times, or may be specified to be avoided in certain situations. In one embodiment, a user may be added to the blacklist during a specific situation, resulting in the characteristics of the situation being automatically stored in the blacklist. Subsequently, the blacklist may be used to determine the locations of the blacklisted users matching the current situation. The primary user may then avoid the locations having the greatest probability of encountering blacklisted users.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating song playlists for use in an immersive virtual environment. Generally, playlists may be generated based on stored music preference data. The music preference data may be generated by storing user interactions with specific songs. The user interactions may be associated with characteristics of the user's situational context within the virtual world. The music preference data may be indexed by song name, and/or by musical properties. Subsequently, the music preference data may be used to generate a playlist adapted to the user's current situation within the virtual world.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus associate a computed trust level to avatars that interact with one another in a simulated environment. The avatars may represent legitimate users of the virtual world or spammers. System monitoring of each avatar provides ability to recognize potential spammers and create an alternate indication of the spammers. A user index may be used to store data describing attributes of each avatar for analysis using programs stored in memory.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating song playlists for use in an immersive virtual environment. Generally, playlists may be generated based on stored music preference data. The music preference data may be generated by storing user interactions with specific songs. The user interactions may be associated with characteristics of the user's situational context within the virtual world. The music preference data may be indexed by song name, and/or by musical properties. Subsequently, the music preference data may be used to generate a playlist adapted to the user's current situation within the virtual world.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention may be used to place a targeted advertisement on a billboard (or other advertising location) in an immersive virtual environment by determining the interests of a group of users at a given location to calculate an advertisement matching the whole group. The selected advisement may be based not only on the sum of individual interests for the avatars present in the particular location, but also current interaction between the avatars. As groups of users communicate with one another within a virtual world, the substance of their communications may contribute to what advertisement is selected and presented to the avatars at the advertising location.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for providing information for avoiding specific users of an immersive virtual environment. Generally, a primary user may specify other users to be avoided in a blacklist. The blacklisted users may be specified to be avoided at all times, or may be specified to be avoided in certain situations. In one embodiment, a user may be added to the blacklist during a specific situation, resulting in the characteristics of the situation being automatically stored in the blacklist. Subsequently, the blacklist may be used to determine the locations of the blacklisted users matching the current situation. The primary user may then avoid the locations having the greatest probability of encountering blacklisted users.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for generating song playlists for use in an immersive virtual environment. Generally, playlists may be generated based on stored music preference data. The music preference data may be generated by storing user interactions with specific songs. The user interactions may be associated with characteristics of the user's situational context within the virtual world. The music preference data may be indexed by song name, and/or by musical properties. Subsequently, the music preference data may be used to generate a playlist adapted to the user's current situation within the virtual world.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that, in an embodiment, saves a plurality of values for a variable specified by a condition after a respective plurality of encounters of a breakpoint by a program that modifies the variable. One of the plurality of values is selected based on a condition. A determination is made whether to stop execution of the program at the breakpoint based on the one of the plurality of the values. Execution of the program is stopped at the breakpoint if the determining is true. The program is allowed to continue to execute if the determining is false.

Abstract: A browser renders a page for display according to user habits. When a user interacts with a page associated with a network address, an entry is made in a file that associates the element on the page of the user interaction with the network address. When the page is visited again, the file is checked to see if any entry exists. If an entry exists and the stored user interaction is still relevant for that page, the page is rendered so that the location the user interacted with is provided at the top of the display, or the element is re-arranged, as in the case of a table, or both re-positioning and re-arranging occurs. Such page rendering reduces the need for the user to scroll through the page to view the desired information.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method utilize voice recognition to process voice messages in an automated manner to detect spoken numbers contained therein. Detected spoken numbers can then be analyzed to automatically determine whether such numbers are telephone numbers, and thus enable such numbers to be automatically dialed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for abstracting conversations between avatars within a virtual world. In one embodiment, the user of an avatar observing a conversation between other avatars may be presented with an abstracted version of the conversation. The abstraction may be performed so as to enable the user to determine the general topic or nature of the conversation, without receiving sensitive or detailed information included in the conversation. In one embodiment, the abstraction is performed by substituting words of the conversation with fewer words, or words having a more general meaning. The degree of abstraction performed may be based on a level of trust between the observer and the users engaged in conversation.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for implementing performance impact reduction of watched variables. Source code is parsed and a variable in the source code to be watched is identified. The identified variable is allocated to a predefined page of storage. The predefined page of storage is separated from frequently accessed variables, such as, a page containing least frequently modified variables, a last page associated with a static storage, and a separate page added for receiving the identified variables to be watched.

Abstract: A system, method, and program product for recording presentable data accessed through interactive links displayed within an interactive television program are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, an interactive television recording device receives an interactive television signal containing one or more interactive links associated with presentable data. In response to receipt of a record command, the interactive television recording device records the interactive television program, and the presentable data associated with the one or more interactive links are accessed and recorded into a designated storage medium. In a preferred embodiment, the interactive television signal and the one or more interactive links are stored on a first data storage medium, while the presentable data are separately stored on a second data storage medium. If a play command is received, the interactive television recording device plays the interactive television signal from the first data storage medium.

Abstract: A template debug mechanism is provided for executing an operation on at least one breakpoint within a program that includes a template. In one embodiment, in response to a first selection, a breakpoint is set in all expansions of the template and a multiple breakpoints icon is displayed. Preferably, the user may request display of a breakpoint properties dialog box listing each of the template expansions in which the multiple breakpoints are set. In response to a second selection, a breakpoint is set in only the current expansion of the template that is active in the call stack, and a single breakpoint icon is displayed. In response to the third selection, any breakpoint set in any expansion of the template is removed. Preferably, the first, second and third selections are respectively made by the user with a first, second and third click of an input device.

Abstract: An apparatus and program product utilize voice recognition to process voice messages in an automated manner to detect spoken numbers contained therein. Detected spoken numbers can then be utilized to set a start position at which to begin playback of a voice message, e.g., to permit a user to locate and transcribe a telephone number spoken by a message sender. Automated number detection may also be utilized to automatically dial telephone numbers mentioned in a voice message, as well as in the display of textual representations of such numbers to a user.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and signal-bearing medium that in an embodiment issue a warning if a file to be used is an older version. In an embodiment, the warning includes an identification of the location of a newer version of the file. In an embodiment, the file is a class, and the old and new versions are found using a classpath, but in other embodiments any type of file or other object may be used. In this way, the use of incorrect versions of files may be detected and avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method identify a potential breakpoint location in a code path in a computer program based upon the frequency of execution of the code path as identified in collected profile data. By doing so, a potential breakpoint location may be identified for an infrequently executed code path and/or a frequently executed code path, and a breakpoint may be set at the identified breakpoint location. As such, breakpoints may be set in locations that may be more likely to assist a user in debugging the computer program and may result in more efficient debugging.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that, in an embodiment, saves a plurality of values for a variable specified by a condition after a respective plurality of encounters of a breakpoint by a program that modifies the variable. One of the plurality of values is selected based on a condition. A determination is made whether to stop execution of the program at the breakpoint based on the one of the plurality of the values. Execution of the program is stopped at the breakpoint if the determining is true. The program is allowed to continue to execute if the determining is false.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for indicating thread swaps. A code is presented on a graphical user interface. A portion of the code is executed. A determination is made as to whether a change from an initial thread to a current thread occurred when execution of the portion of the code stops at a line of code in the portion of the code. A graphical indication is displayed identifying a thread swap in the graphical user interface in association with the line of code in which the thread swap occurred.

Abstract: A storage medium that, in an embodiment, determines whether to stop execution of a program at a breakpoint based on a previous value of a variable. In another embodiment, an attribute is applied to all breakpoints in a breakpoint group. The attribute includes data that is used to decide whether to halt the program upon encountering the breakpoints or allow the program to continue to execute. In another embodiment, breakpoints are excluded or included on the basis of the thread in which the breakpoint is encountered by the program.