Abstract: A user interface is provided for conducting online conversations that span asynchronous and synchronous modes of communications. Users can initiate a new conversation or find existing conversations by choosing images of friends from a drop down list based on text input of friends' names. Conversations are represented in a tree-branch configuration such that new comments added to a conversation are associated directly to the existing comments to which they respond. Branches can be opened or collapsed automatically or at the users' option, allowing the user focus his attention on part(s) of the conversation. Content from the web can be searched and found content can be included into the body of a comment. All participants in a conversation see the same representation of the conversation and links to referenced Web content are maintained in tact regardless of the length and complexity of the conversation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes one or more server computing devices receiving first data associated with an activity recently performed or currently being performed by a user of one or more client computing devices. A current state of the user is inferred at least in part by analyzing at least the first data, and second data associated with one or more historical durations associated with the inferred current state is accessed. An end time associated with the inferred current state is estimated based at least in part on the second data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide techniques for retrieving electronic documents based upon images captured using an image capture device. One or more images captured by a user using an image capture device are used to search a set of documents to retrieve one or more documents that match the search query. The one or more documents retrieved by the search may then be provided to the user or some other recipient.

Abstract: A document sharing system includes producing an updatable collection of multimedia documents. A collection coversheet provides a facile medium for handling and distributing large collections of documents. The system includes techniques for subsequent access to the collection, including printing all or portions of the collection.

Abstract: A document sharing system includes producing an updatable collection of multimedia documents. A collection overview sheet provides a facile medium for handling and distributing large collections of documents. The system includes techniques for subsequent access to the collection, including printing all or portions of the collection.

Abstract: A networked information appliance for use on a network, comprising a plurality of agency base units, wherein each base unit is configured on the network with an address and a plurality of agent cards, wherein each agent card includes state for at least one functionality that is provided to a user of the network at an address dependent on the address of the agency base unit into which the agent card is mounted.

Abstract: A document storage and distribution system includes distributing documents in accordance with a distribution list. Each copy of the distributed document is identified with an identifier that includes the information indicative of the computer system in which it was created. Modifications to the document can be uploaded to the system from any computer system to which the document had been distributed. The modified documents are then re-distributed from the computer system in which it was originally created.

Abstract: An electronic document handling system places electronic documents on stacks and “staples” the documents in a stack together. A user selects at least one document and places the selected document(s) onto a stack, The system generates a cover sheet including a table of contents; a title; keywords and/or annotations; and/or controls for: adding or deleting pages or documents from the stack, changing cover sheet contents, and/or controls for “stapling” the stack. An electronic file including the cover sheet data electronically represents a stapled stack. The stack can be secured by encryption with a user or system supplied key or password. The system computes a cryptographic checksum for the stack of documents and affixes the user's or the system's digital signature to the cover sheet. After stapling, the stack or a file representing the stack is stored in a stack database or file structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for synchronizing distributed work. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving first and second metadata entries, adding the first and second metadata entries to a set corresponding to a digital object, and providing access to first and second unique identifiers used for referencing the first and second metadata entries respectively, where the first and second unique identifiers are based on contents of the first and second metadata entries respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for logging and/or synchronizing data exchanges. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request from a requester to post data to a first log, identifying the log based on a context identifier in the request indicative of a location of the first log and digital data associated with a document corresponding to the first log, creating a first entry based on data in the request, appending the first log with the first entry, calculating a first identifier based on log entries in the first log, and sending the first identifier to the requester.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for synchronizing distributed work. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving first and second metadata entries, adding the first and second metadata entries to a set corresponding to a digital object, and providing access to first and second unique identifiers used for referencing the first and second metadata entries respectively, where the first and second unique identifiers are based on contents of the first and second metadata entries respectively.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling updated or new entries for a document log are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a user input of a document identifier for a document and displaying information from metadata entries associated with the identifier.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing a refining operation based on content of a log are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises analyzing one or more metadata entries in a set corresponding to a digital object that is stored separately from the set of one or more metadata entries and selecting one or more digital objects for display based on analysis of content in the metadata entries.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for log integrity verification are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a first log and determining whether checkpoint hashes after each entry are consistent.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for coordinating and/or tracking workflows are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing a workflow having a series of two or more processing operations and, for each of the two or more processing operations, calculating an identifier and adding at least one metadata entry corresponding to said each of the two or more processing operations to a set of metadata entries corresponding to a digital object.

Abstract: An incoming document is scanned, encrypted, and stored. A decryption key is generated and output on a physical artifact, such as a printed sheet of paper. The decryption key is not stored in any other location. The physical artifact can later be presented to access, decrypt, and output the stored document. Additional features of some embodiments of the invention include user authentication, key expiry, and watermarking.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to receive an image and to create a smaller representation of the image from a wavelet representation of the image is described. The size of the smaller representation of the image is selected to compensate for the content of the image and physical properties of the display device to display the smaller representation of the image.

Abstract: A printing system enables the printing of enhanced documents using a semantic classification scheme. A printing system receives an image to be printed. The system classifies the image according to the semantic classification scheme and, based on this classification, performs enhancement processing on the image. Depending on the desired application, the printing system may recognize and classify any number of image types and may then perform various enhancement processing functions on the image, where the type of enhancement processing performed is based on the classification of the image.