Abstract: In general, embodiments of the invention provide an approach to proactively adjust timeout settings on a display device based on user activity. Specifically, a system and method are presented to adaptively adjust the inactivity timeout settings on a display device based on the application being used, the content being displayed on the device, and an analysis of the user's history with the application. The present invention calculates an inactivity timeout modifier which is utilized to modify the default operating system timeout value.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, system, and computer program product for managing client connections to a server among a plurality of clients. A messaging server detects, by a first server, an attribute of a client connection that exceeds a threshold, wherein the attribute is a select write operation. The messaging server selects a client that connects to a server, responsive to detecting the attribute of the client exceeding the threshold of select write calls. The messaging server selects a connect mechanism of a second server, responsive to selecting the client. The messaging server transmits a migrate message to the client, the migrate message comprising at least a uniform resource identifier (URI).

Abstract: An improved solution for accessing a web application is provided. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for controlling access to a web application includes: receiving a request for a first web page application, wherein the first web application is connected to a second web page application via a link at the second web page application; determining if the request is likely from a book marked link to the first web page application or from the link at the second web page application; and providing one of the second web page application and the first web page application based on the determining.

Abstract: A method and a system for replacement of programs on a video recorder based on preferences and size constraints of a video recorder. The video recorder compares recorded programs in the computer readable storage media and a schedule of programs to be recorded to a plurality of global preferences and program specific preferences specifying preferred recording quality. For each recorded program whose quality does not match a global preference or program specific preference, a listing of future programs is examined for alternate versions of the program which do match a global preference or program specific preference.

Abstract: An alert generation method and system. The method includes receiving by a computer processor, alert data indicating filters for specified alert types associated with possible future events. The computer processor receives monitor definition data and media generated audio/video data; compares the alert data to the media generated audio/video data; determines a first alert type matches first audio/video data of the media generated audio/video data; and determines that the first audio/video data comprises a primary event. The computer processor broadcasts the primary event.

Abstract: To associate an email with a tag, an email client may receive a tag corresponding to an email attribute, wherein the email attribute is an historical email tag. The email client stores the tag to a record keyed by the email attribute, and receives an email tag request, the email tag request having a word attribute, and looks up at least one record based on the word attribute to find the tag. The email client presents the tag of the at least one record to a user. The email client receives a user selection of the tag to form a selected tag, and sends an email having the selected tag as part of the email header, wherein the email comprises the email tag request.

Abstract: Interruption and degradation of service within a virtual universe leads to an unsatisfactory experience for users of the virtual universe. Dissatisfaction with service of a virtual universe may lead users to see alternate universes providing higher levels of service. Functionality can be implemented to identify alternate virtual universes that meet a user's service requirements and dynamically move the user's avatar from one virtual universe to another.

Abstract: An invention that establishes a virtual universe benefit based on a real-world transaction is provided. In one embodiment, there is a benefit establishing tool, including a linking component configured to link a user of a virtual universe with a business entity. The benefit establishing tool further includes a benefit component configured to establish a virtual universe benefit to the user based on a real-world transaction between the user and the business entity.

Abstract: A system and method to modify audio components in an online environment based on avatar characteristics and/or inventory items. The system includes a component to allow one or more audio modification algorithms to be selected. The system also includes a component to identify one or more avatar characteristics and a component to identify one or more avatar inventory items. The system further comprises a component to modify an audio communication in a virtual universe based on at least one of the one or more audio modification algorithms, the one or more avatar characteristics, and the one or more avatar inventory items.

Abstract: A method, service, and product for hiding a watermark existing in a digital media within a software application, comprising creating a set pattern of pixels represented by coordinates which represent a red, a green, a blue, and an alpha level of color, where the set pattern of pixels covers a set of original pixels within the digital media. The method including determining whether the transparency level of color should be removed from the set pattern of pixels based on a known pixel transparency removal parameter; and modifying the set pattern of pixels to remove the transparency level of color coordinates, wherein an original pixel color can be seen because the set pattern of pixels are made transparent; or not modifying the set of pixels to remove the transparency level of color coordinates, wherein the original pixel color cannot be seen because the set of original pixels is made transparent.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program provide a mechanism for smoothing the transition back from a virtual (computer generated) scene to a related video stream. An event such as a user input or timeout is received triggering a return to display of the video stream from a virtual scene related to content of the video stream. A number of time points and/or camera angles are either presented to the user or are automatically searched for the best match. The list may be presented in order according to an automatically detected matching criteria. The virtual scene may a scene constructed locally within a computer or digital video recorder (DVR) and the matching performed locally based on angle and time information provided from a content provider such as a server, or the virtual scene generation and matching may be performed at a remote location such as the content server.

Abstract: Methods, systems, services and program products are provided for implementing carbon offset computing. During performance of a specified computing task data concerning resource consumption regarding that specified computing task is gathered and stored. Upon completion of the specified computing task, the amount of carbon offset required to compensate for resource consumption associated with performance of the completed specified computing task is calculated based upon stored or known resource consumption data. The calculated amount of carbon offset information may be transmitted to a carbon offset function provider, and a carbon offset function provider implements the specified amount of carbon offset based upon the calculated amounts communicated for the completed specified computing task.

Abstract: A method, digital video recording (DVR) device/system and computer program provide a mechanism for recording video content associated with unpredictable events. A user specifies particular event classifications, keywords, or other control parameters from which the occurrence of an event can be determined, and when such event is detected, the DVR is triggered to record content from a specified channel/location. The events can be detected from feeds such as RSS feeds, websites, video content scans or other mechanisms. The event detection may be provided by a remote service that is accessible for user-configuration via a network, or the event detection may be performed in a DVR device or local computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for managing multiple user locks and deletion requests on a digital video recorder (DVR) is disclosed. Files associated with the DVR can be protected from deletion by allowing users to lock a recorded file utilizing a number of locking strategies. The recorded file can also be locked by multiple users and the recording can be deleted when the users specifically remove the lock. A simpler interface for each user can be provided to prevent other users from deleting recorded files, which have not yet been viewed. Such an approach allows for an administrative override to prevent users from locking recordings and never unlocking in order to prevent the DVR exhausting disk space.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for early notification of a pending deletion event by a digital playback device. Programs associated with the digital playback device can be scheduled for deletion in advance by a digital playback device interface manually and/or automatically. A deletion event can be notified through a remote delivery by analyzing scheduled recordings and hard drive space if the digital playback device recognizes a recording is close to the deletion event. The notification of the deletion event can be enabled by configuring a number of notification options maintained for each user profile by the digital playback device at a predefined time. The deletion event can be modified through the remote means, which allows a user to send information back to the digital playback device after a deletion notification is received. The deleted files can be moved to a deleted programs folder from which the program can be recovered and the recording can be irrevocably removed after a time period.

Abstract: A system and method to modify audio communications in an online environment and, in particular, to modifying audio communications using one or more parameters. The system includes a module configured to detect one or more parameters applicable to an incoming audio communication and a weighing engine configured to weigh the one or more parameters and obtain a weighted volume. The system further includes a module configured to transmit the weighted volume to a user participating in a virtual universe. The method determines whether one or more parameters apply to an incoming communication, weighs the incoming communication based on the one or more parameters to determine a weighted volume of the incoming communication, and transmits the incoming communication to a user at the weighted volume.

Abstract: A method, system and computer usable-medium for prioritizing and controlling the delivery of messages to a mobile client capable of connecting to a network. Data can be collected utilizing an agent associated with a messaging application for the delivery of a message to the mobile client, wherein the data is indicative of one or more characteristics of a network to which the mobile client is currently connected, one or more characteristics of the message itself, and one or more characteristics of the mobile client. The data can be then analyzed, and thereafter a delivery decision is rendered with respect to the message, in response to analyzing such data in order to efficiently control the delivery of the message to the mobile client.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and program products are provided for enabling users of a computing system to measure and compare the green efficiency of a set of resources used in a computing task. With the use of this information, the user can select a desired set of resources to be employed in the computing task to minimize the environmental impact of computing tasks in relation to requirements. In some embodiments, the invention creates metrics for measuring the greenness of a computing task. The metrics are calculated through analysis of the resource computation, energy consumption, consequence of computation, and dimensional characteristics of a computing task. The metrics could be beneficial or other metrics that permit the user or a processing system to make scheduling and execution decisions.

Abstract: Interruption and degradation of service within a virtual universe leads to an unsatisfactory experience for users of the virtual universe. Dissatisfaction with service of a virtual universe may lead users to see alternate universes providing higher levels of service. Functionality can be implemented to identify alternate virtual universes that meet a user's service requirements and dynamically move the user's avatar from one virtual universe to another.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for implementing a virtual keyboard for use with small input devices. A circular keyboard can be graphically displayed, in response to a user input by a user via a small input device. A circular and centrally located key can be graphically located and displayed within the center of the circular keyboard, wherein character keys radiate outward from the centrally located key (i.e., the “central key”). Character keys that are most commonly utilized by the user are preferably located closed to the circular and centrally located key within the circular keyboard. Character keys least commonly utilized by the user are preferably located at the edges of the keyboard, thereby permitting the circular keyboard to function as a self-adapting virtual keyboard for use with small input devices based on the usage of the keyboard by the user.