Abstract: A system and method is provided to enable a user to quickly identify related items in a list environment. A relationship icon is used to identify the presence of related items, such as email messages, occurring before and after a selected item. The relationship icon is used to navigate between the related items.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for viewing extended text information associated with a particular item in place. A user may invoke a text scrolling area in order to view extended text in place with out obstructing the view of other screen items. Multiple scrolling areas may be created to view text associated with multiple items.

Abstract: Described is a method for managing interruptions to a network user. The interruptions are generated by senders on a network. The network user maintains a permanent reception list and a temporary reception list indicating senders that are allowed preferential treatment in response to their interruptions. The temporary reception list is modified in response to a retrospective activity or a prospective activity. An interruption received from a sender is presented to the network user if the permanent reception list or the temporary reception list includes an entry associated with the sender of the interruption. In one embodiment, the interruption is presented to the network user if an associated urgency value exceeds an interruption threshold value defined by the network user. In another embodiment, a customized status message is generated if the permanent reception list or the temporary reception list includes an entry associated with the sender of a user status request.

Abstract: A calendar bar utility with a special user interface may be integrated and displayed simultaneously with an electronic mail list inbox. The calendar bar user interface comprises a linear display arranged into multiple, chronologically-arranged, time periods. Upon selection of a specific time period, such as a day, or the current day, subdivisions of the time period, e.g. hours of a day, are displayed in a similar format. The calendar bar also allows multiple calendars, for example the personal calendar of the user, and a team calendar for multiple individuals, to be displayed simultaneously for easy access. Selection of a specific time period causes data associated with any event in that time period to be displayed next to the designated time period, or, alternatively, in a separate window. The data associated with the event may vary in detail and scope depending on the designer preferences, but will typically include the start and end times, the location, topic, type, i.e. call-in, video conference, etc.

Abstract: In a connection arrangement including two or more electronic devices, wherein information can be exchanged among the electronic devices through a plurality of communication links between the electronic devices, at least one of the electronic devices being configurable for communicating with a data source, a method for presenting a multi-channel message originating from the data source, the multi-channel message including a two or more components, includes the steps of allocating each of at least a portion of the components in the multi-channel message to at least one electronic device and, for each allocated component, determining possible communication paths between the data source and the at least one electronic device allocated to the corresponding component.