Abstract: Generation of user and avatar specific content in a virtual world may include generating a local attribute object. The local attribute object may comprise attributes identifying at least one of the user's real world location and the user's avatar's virtual world location. Access to the local attribute object by virtual world operators may be controlled by the user and/or user's avatar. Specific content, based on the local attribute object, is presented to the user's avatar.

Abstract: Translating gestures made by one avatar to a second avatar in a virtual world by receiving an input from a first user representing an input gesture to be made by the first avatar to the second avatar. The input gesture is translated to generate at least one translated gesture for display. The translated gesture may be output for display as being made by the first avatar to the second avatar.

Abstract: Avatar cloning in a virtual world may include receiving an input indicating that a user desires to access a cloning feature and allowing a cloned avatar to be cloned from the user's avatar.

Abstract: A method for perspective based tagging and visualization of avatars in a virtual world may include determining if another avatar has moved within a predetermined proximity range of a user's avatar in a virtual world. The method may also include allowing the user to tag the other avatar with information in response to the other avatar being within the predetermined proximity range of the user's avatar.

Abstract: A method for allowing an alternative action in a virtual world may include permitting a user to request an original action for an avatar of the user in the virtual world. The method may also include receiving the request for the original action and storing the request in a queue in response to the original action being unavailable to the user's avatar. The method may additionally include determining if an alternative action is available for the user's avatar in response to the original action being unavailable to the user's avatar and presenting an interface to the user to permit the user to accept the alternative action in response to the alternative action being available.

Abstract: A method for contract formation and dispute resolution in a virtual world may include presenting a graphical user interface to permit formation of a contract. The method may also include permitting a set of contract terms to be defined. The method may further include providing a mechanism for review and acceptance of the set of contract terms and providing a mechanism to designate a contract as complete and to release a bond stored in a virtual contract object for virtual payment to a contractor in response an acceptance that the contract has been fulfilled.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture, and memory for displaying a relationship between an HTML file and an element in the HTML file is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of reading information from a project file, the information comprising a relationship between the element and the HTML file, processing the information to map the element to the HTML file, and displaying the mapping. In one embodiment, the invention also comprises a program storage device, tangibly embodying instructions for performing the above method steps. The invention also comprises an apparatus for displaying a relationship between an HTML file and an element such as a control in the HTML file. The apparatus includes a means for reading information from a project file, a processor coupled to the reading means for using the information to map the element to the HTML file, and a display coupled to the processor for displaying the mapping.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and system for unobtrusively achieving secure cross-platform access in a heterogeneous network environment. In a system aspect, the system includes a plurality of heterogeneous computer systems, at least two of the computer systems including a system specified user identification; and an enterprise directory service, the enterprise directory service being shared by the plurality of computer systems to provide for the formation of an enterprise group, the enterprise directory service including at least one enterprise user which is associated with system specified user identification from the at least two of the computer systems. The system in the network in accordance with the present invention may perform cooperative programming with other systems in the same enterprise group. Systems within the same enterprise group are allowed to define enterprise users between them.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, article of manufacture, and memory for programmatically switching arbitrary HTML pages is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving control information in an application server from a client computer, and executing a script in the application server to generate a map relating HTML files with commands to show pages related to the HTML files. When a control event is received from the client computer, the mapping provides a basis for commanding the client computer's browser to switch to a second HTML page. In one embodiment, the invention also includes a program storage device, tangibly embodying instructions for performing the above method steps. The invention also includes an apparatus for remotely scripting local objects.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing cross-platform access to Internet users of a heterogeneous grouping of computers. In a system aspect, the system includes a plurality of heterogeneous computer systems, at least one of the plurality of computer systems including an Internet user identity; and an enterprise directory service, the enterprise directory service being shared by the plurality of computer systems, the enterprise directory including at least one enterprise role which is associated with the Internet user identity, the at least one enterprise role capable of being used to access the plurality of computer systems independently of any specific operating system user identification. By allowing enterprise roles to be defined independently of any specific operating system user identification, flexibility is injected into the network configuration and Internet user aggravation is reduced.

Abstract: Aspects for a heterogeneous computer network system with unobtrusive cross-platform user access are described. In an exemplary system aspect, the system includes a plurality of computer systems coupled in a network, each of the plurality of computer systems operating according to one of a plurality of operating system platforms, each operating system platform having an associated security mechanism. The system further includes an enterprise directory included on at least one server system of the plurality of computer systems, the enterprise directory configured for security interception to allow an authorized user access among the services of the plurality of computer systems without affecting the associated security mechanisms of the plurality of operating system platforms.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture and memory for a component neutral builder interface. The interface comprises a dynamic link library (DLL) stored in the memory of and executable by a computer that is communicatively coupled to the user-definable component and the build utility, and a program interface implemented in the DLL which enforces an interface protocol between the component and the utility having a command set including all interface commands for the user-definable component. In this invention, the instruction set for implementing the component functions can reside in the DLL itself, an external component, or can be shared between the DLL and the external component. A method of implementing a user-definable component in a build utility is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of Internet and Intranet applications. More specially, the present invention discloses a multi-tier debugger that allows the debugging of applications executing on multiple tiers at the same time, when the tiers are on separate machines or when the tiers are on a single machine. The debugger is split into a window module and a runtime module.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for remotely scripting local objects. An applet is executed in a browser in a remote client computer, thereby generating control information. The control information is transmitted from the client computer to a network server. A script stored on the network server is executed using the control information. The execution of the script generates script output data. The script output data is transmitted from the network server to the browser. The output data can be thereafter used to execute another applet in the client browser. The output data need not comprise an entire HTML page, but may comprise only a portion of the page as required to display the required information.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of Internet and Intranet applications. The present invention describes a data structure readable by the computer for encapsulating a software project with a project application defined by executable programming logic, and a project environment for developing the application. The data structure comprises a first section comprising the executable programming logic, and all data needed to load and execute the project application on the computer, and a second section for storing other data, including data required to restore the project environment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of internet and intranet applications. The present invention describes a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for remotely debugging internet applications. A debug control embedded in a debug proxy file is used to establish a debug session with a development client and to transmit the application to the user computer's browser, so as to present data in controls therein.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of Internet and Intranet applications. More specially, the present invention discloses a multi-tier debugger that allows the debugging of applications executing on multiple tiers at the same time, when the tiers are on separate machines or when the tiers are on a single machine. The debugger is split into a window module and a runtime module.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of Internet and Intranet applications. More specifically, a visual representation of an application file is displayed in a project window on a monitor connected to a computer. The visual representation comprises a hierarchical view of a project and its components stored in the application file, and includes one or more visual elements indicating a component is shared.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing a programming development environment that supports the development of Internet and Intranet applications. More specifically, a visual representation of an application file is displayed in a project window on a monitor connected to a computer. The visual representation comprises a hierarchical view of a project and its components stored in the application file.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for simulating a multi-tiered environment on a single computer. An application file is generated comprising second tier instructions invoking first tier instructions and third tier instructions. The application file is provided to the second and third tier runtime engines. The second tier instructions are executed in the second tier runtime engine. The third tier instructions are executed in the third tier runtime engine. A debugger on the first tier debugs the executed instructions.