Abstract: A system and method is provided for avoiding duplication of effort in drafting documents and, in particular, to a system and method for avoiding duplication of effort in preparing patent related submissions. The method is implemented on a computer infrastructure comprises storing disclosure information related to non-public proprietary innovation and receiving terms associated with an innovation. The method further comprises matching the terms with the stored disclosure information and providing an alert to a user that certain of the terms overlap with the stored disclosure information.

Abstract: A method and system applies a rating adjustment to ratings by avatars in a virtual universe. The rating adjustment offsets mutual rating collusion between avatars. The ratings may be adjusted based on a weighted value of indicia of association, and may also be adjusted based on rating frequencies between the same avatars. In a rating system having a fee structure, the ratings may be adjusted by scaling the rating/fee payoff to favor higher fees. Where indicia of association are weighted, the weightings are mapped to discrete levels of association between avatars, from no association to close association, with greater reduction of ratings for closer association.

Abstract: Provided is a method for authentication and verification of a user in a virtual world (VU) based upon such criteria as the physical location of a user in the real world and the logical location of the user's avatar in the VU. The disclosed technology combines physical and application aspects of security to enhance security options within virtual environments. In addition to traditional credential-based authentication, physical constraints corresponding to the real world and logical locations in a VU are employed, wherein an authentication server requires each component to be in the proper association state, location or proximity before authenticating a user. Further, the disclosed technology provides for the termination of a user's authentication if the user moves from an approved physical or VU location to an unapproved location. Techniques are provided to track a user's credentials and real-time physical and logical location of a user.

Abstract: A proximity threshold of an avatar is defined with respect to proximity to an artifact located within a virtual universe domain. Activity by the avatar within the virtual universe domain is tracked, with activity data generated from the tracking. The activity data is analyzed to determine proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold, and a report is generated from the analyzing, the report noting a determined proximity of the avatar to the artifact within the proximity threshold. In one aspect, the report is provided to a supervisory entity.

Abstract: Provided is a method for authentication and verification of a user in a virtual world (VU) based upon such criteria as the physical location of a user in the real world and the logical location of the user's avatar in the VU. The disclosed technology combines physical and application aspects of security to enhance security options within virtual environments. In addition to traditional credential-based authentication, physical constraints corresponding to the real world and logical locations in a VU are employed, wherein an authentication server requires each component to be in the proper association state, location or proximity before authenticating a user. Further, the disclosed technology provides for the termination of a user's authentication if the user moves from an approved physical or VU location to an unapproved location. Techniques are provided to track a user's credentials and real-time physical and logical location of a user.

Abstract: An invention that provides a client-side simulated virtual universe environment is provided. In one embodiment, there is a simulation tool, including an analysis component configured to identify whether a server-side virtual universe is available; and a construction component configured to provide a client-side simulated virtual universe environment in the case that the server-side virtual universe is unavailable.

Abstract: An input device for switchable use between first and second computer systems. A controller of the input device can execute switching logic to direct a radio transceiver of the input device to switch an operating channel of the radio transceiver to a first channel monitored by the first computer system in response to a first event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the first computer system. The controller can execute switching logic to direct the radio transceiver to switch the operating channel to a second channel monitored by the second computer system in response to a second event, and thereby, the input device can be utilized to insert data into the second computer system.

Abstract: A method of routing data that is part of a grid job including steps of: receiving a data packet at a routing device; determining whether the data packet is identified as part of a grid job; and routing the data packet that is identified as part of a grid job through the Internet to an external node.

Abstract: A system for detecting inappropriate content in a virtual world environment has, and a corresponding method utilizes, a rating unit for rating each of one or more virtual objects based upon its content. The system has, and the method utilizes, a tagging unit for tagging each of the one or more virtual objects with its respective rating, an object tagging database for storing ratings of the one or more virtual objects, and a policy database for storing policies associated with the ratings and the regions. Further the system has, and the method utilizes, an object monitor for monitoring the movement of each of the one or more virtual objects, a security scanner for scanning each of the one or more virtual objects to determine the rating of each of the one or more virtual objects, and an enforcement module to enforce the policies of the policy database based upon the rating and the respective region.

Abstract: Methods and systems for associating a standardized electronic icon with a user and displaying the icon with electronic communications of the user are disclosed. A computer implemented method includes: determining one or more icons to associate with an individual when the individual creates an electronic message; and at least one of selectively and automatically appending at least one of the one or more icons that are associated with the individual to the electronic message. The at least one of the one or more icons is subsequently displayed with the electronic message to a recipient to provide information about the individual to the recipient.

Abstract: Computing environments within a grid computing system are dynamically built in response to specific job resource requirements from a grid resource allocator, including activating needed hardware, provisioning operating systems, application programs, and software drivers. Optimally, prior to building a computing environment for a particular job, cost/revenue analysis is performed, and if operational objectives would not be met by building the environment and executing the job, a job sell-off process is initiated.

Abstract: A system for detecting inappropriate content in a virtual world environment has, and a corresponding method utilizes, a rating unit for rating each of one or more virtual objects based upon its content. The system has, and the method utilizes, a tagging unit for tagging each of the one or more virtual objects with its respective rating, an object tagging database for storing ratings of the one or more virtual objects, and a policy database for storing policies associated with the ratings and the regions. Further the system has, and the method utilizes, an object monitor for monitoring the movement of each of the one or more virtual objects, a security scanner for scanning each of the one or more virtual objects to determine the rating of each of the one or more virtual objects, and an enforcement module to enforce the policies of the policy database based upon the rating and the respective region.

Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that coalesced and/or collapse areas in a region of a virtual universe to conserve computing resources. Some embodiments are directed to detecting an indication to reduce usage of a computing resource in the virtual universe and, in response, determining the first area of the virtual universe for coalescing and collapsing into the second area of the virtual universe. In some embodiments, the first area comprises a plurality of virtual universe objects. Some embodiments are further directed to selecting a first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects for moving from the first area into the second area, coalescing the first set of the plurality of virtual universe objects into the second area from the first area, and, in response, collapsing the first area of the virtual universe.

Abstract: An artifact tag includes rendering data and a protocol for applying the tag to an artifact of the virtual universe domain, the protocol including a compliance prerequisite for rendering the tag information to user of the virtual universe domain environment. A user requesting application of the tag to an artifact item within the virtual universe domain causes a setting or updating of a protocol compliance value. An avatar of a user engaging the artifact item causes a virtual universe client of the engaging user avatar to render the item to the engaging user in compliance with the tag rendering data if a set or updated compliance value meets a compliance prerequisite.

Abstract: Methods and systems for associating a standardized electronic icon with a user and displaying the icon with electronic communications of the user are disclosed. A computer implemented method includes: determining one or more icons to associate with an individual when the individual creates an electronic message; and at least one of selectively and automatically appending at least one of the one or more icons that are associated with the individual to the electronic message. The at least one of the one or more icons is subsequently displayed with the electronic message to a recipient to provide information about the individual to the recipient.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements of developing user profiles in virtual worlds are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic to receive data from a software agent in a virtual world, directly or indirectly. The data may be based upon information automatically gathered from data stores outside the virtual world, including account data and user profile data. The embodiment may also involve developing a user profile of the user in the virtual world, based upon the data received from the software agent. An embodiment may also involve automatically gathering information from data stores external to the virtual world. The information may include user account data and user profile information. The embodiment may also include aggregating data for generating the user profile in the virtual world, based upon the information; and transmitting the data directly or indirectly to the virtual world.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for identifying type-ahead candidates. A method includes determining a context of past non-threaded emails of a user. The method further includes generating a context index associating the past non-threaded emails of the determined context with repeatable values within the past non-threaded emails. The method further includes receiving characters in a current email and determining a context of the current email. The method further includes determining matches between the current email and the past non-threaded in the context index. The method further includes identifying the corresponding repeatable values and matching the identified corresponding repeatable values with the received characters. The method further includes presenting the candidate words to the user for inclusion in the current email.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for identifying type-ahead candidates. A method includes determining a context of past non-threaded emails of a user. The method further includes generating a context index associating the past non-threaded emails of the determined context with repeatable values within the past non-threaded emails. The method further includes receiving characters in a current email and determining a context of the current email. The method further includes determining matches between the current email and the past non-threaded in the context index. The method further includes identifying the corresponding repeatable values and matching the identified corresponding repeatable values with the received characters. The method further includes presenting the candidate words to the user for inclusion in the current email.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to teleporting avatars between disparate virtual worlds. A system is disclosed that includes a facility for creating a persona profile for an avatar in a first virtual world when the avatar wants to be teleported out of the first virtual world; a facility for transferring persona profiles to and from a disparate virtual world; and a facility for instantiating an inbound avatar based on a received persona profile. Persona profiles may include, e.g., rendering information, trait information, and inventory information.

Abstract: The personal information manager system comprises a centralized information manager (CIM) and a personal information manager (PIM) device. The centralized information manager is encoded on a server and is accessable by the PIM device through Internet protocols over a wireless medium. The PIM, to be carried by a user, is connected to the CIM by a wireless transmitter, receives context-sensitive, customized, prioritized, filtered, and aggregated information from the CIM, and can directly receive GPS data and other sources of local information.