Abstract: The present invention facilitates and tracks personal referrals made via electronic networks. In a preferred embodiment, using electronic mail delivered to a participant interface 110, a central controller 100 provides a Web page through which an individual may enter the electronic-mail addresses of those whom he or she wishes to refer. This spares the individual the inconvenience of generating his or her own electronic-mail referrals, and also enables the central controller to determine the format and tone of the referral. The address or contents of the Web page includes a unique identifier that is exclusively associated with that individual and a specific offer 120. In this way, the series of referrals may be tracked, duplicate referrals to the same electronic-mail address may be eliminated, offers may be withdrawn or modified, and referrals about an expired or withdrawn offer may be prevented.

Abstract: A system and method are described for presenting a continuously accessible computer system tool interface. The interface of the present invention comprises a separated applications section and system tray section. The applications section provides a portion of the graphic user interface for running applications programs. The tray section provides an alternative region of the graphic user interface for objects to surface their key features while occupying only a small portion of the display space. The tray section is supported by a Tray Object which provides a frame work for tray aware applications to dock.

Abstract: A taskbar is provided that supplies visual cues, such as buttons, for each application having an active window. These visual cues inform a user of the currently active windows and may be used to display the active windows. The taskbar may also include a start menu button that enables a user to gain access to a menu for launching programs, opening documents and controlling system settings. The taskbar is resizable and may be anchored to different locations on a video display. The taskbar may operate in a mode where it is not obscurable by other windows. The taskbar may also be displayed in a mode where it is not displayed when another window is in a non-minimized state.

Abstract: A system and method are described for presenting a continuously accessible computer system tool interface. The interface of the present invention comprises a separated applications section and system tray section. The applications section provides a portion of the graphic user interface for running applications programs. The tray section provides an alternative region of the graphic user interface for objects to surface their key features while occupying only a small portion of the display space. The tray section is supported by a Tray Object which provides a frame work for tray aware applications to dock.

Abstract: A taskbar is provided that supplies visual cues, such as buttons, for each application having an active window. These visual cues inform a user of the currently active windows and may be used to display the active windows. The taskbar may also include a start menu button that enables a user to gain access to a menu for launching programs, opening documents and controlling system settings. The taskbar is resizable and may be anchored to different locations on a video display. The taskbar may operate in a mode where it is not obscurable by other windows. The taskbar may also be displayed in a mode where it is not displayed when another window is in a non-minimized state.

Abstract: A system visual notification area is provided to display visual notifications to a user. The visual notifications provide visual cues to a user of the nature of the intended notification. The visual notifications may notify a user of events, status information, or other information. The visual notifications may be interactive so as to display information about a notification when a cursor is positioned to point at the notification. Moreover, the visual notifications may be interactive so as to provide a means for activating a program or displaying a menu to respond to the notification. The visual notifications are displayed without substantially interrupting execution of any currently active programs. Furthermore, the visual notifications may be displayed without the program that is provided to respond to the notifications having a currently active window.