Abstract: A floating command object is provided for offering a set of commonly or frequently used commands in close proximity to a selected text, data or other object in a document. When a given object is selected for editing, the floating object automatically displays near the object to allow easy selection of relevant commands such as formatting property commands. The object remains displayed to allow multiple command selections until it is closed by user action. If a mouse or touchpad pointer is moved away from the displayed object, the displayed object becomes increasingly translucent to visually deemphasize the relevance of the object to the new position of the pointer.

Abstract: Improved conversation grouping methods and systems are provided for electronic mail records. Electronic mail messages that are unread or flagged for follow-up are automatically displayed under an associated conversation grouping heading. If a conversation grouping contains only a single unread or flagged electronic mail message, the single electronic mail message is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading for review by a user. For a conversation grouping having no unread or flagged electronic mail messages, the latest electronic mail message in the grouping is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading.

Abstract: Automatic sorting and grouping of electronic mail items in an electronic mail system is provided. An automatic mail grouping property may be selected for electronic mail received, sent or stored in a variety of storage folders. For a given mail location (e.g., received mail, sent mail, or a given mail storage folder), a selected automatic grouping property causes mail to be displayed to a user in one or more categories that make location of specific mail items easier and more efficient. Visible dividers with optional headings may be provided between mail categories to quickly draw a user's attention to a given mail category and to separate large numbers of mail into logical groupings that make location of specific mail items more manageable.

Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.

Abstract: Providing for summarization and analysis of audio content is described herein. By way of example, an oral conversation can be analyzed, such that points of interest within the oral conversation can be identified and file locations related to such points of interest can be marked. Points of interest can be inferred based on a level of energy, e.g., excitement, pitch, tone, pace, or the like, associated with one or more speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, speaker and/or reviewer activity can form the basis for identifying points of interest within the conversation. Moreover, a compilation of the identified points of interest and portions of the original oral conversation related thereto can be assembled. As described herein, audio content can be succinctly summarized with respect to inferred and/or indicated points of interest, to facilitate an efficient and pertinent review of such content.

Abstract: Improved conversation grouping methods and systems are provided for electronic mail records. Electronic mail messages that are unread or flagged for follow-up are automatically displayed under an associated conversation grouping heading. If a conversation grouping contains only a single unread or flagged electronic mail message, the single electronic mail message is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading for review by a user. For a conversation grouping having no unread or flagged electronic mail messages, the latest electronic mail message in the grouping is automatically displayed under the conversation grouping heading.

Abstract: Automatic sorting and grouping of electronic mail items in an electronic mail system is provided. An automatic mail grouping property may be selected for electronic mail received, sent or stored in a variety of storage folders. For a given mail location (e.g., received mail, sent mail, or a given mail storage folder), a selected automatic grouping property causes mail to be displayed to a user in one or more categories that make location of specific mail items easier and more efficient. Visible dividers with optional headings may be provided between mail categories to quickly draw a user's attention to a given mail category and to separate large numbers of mail into logical groupings that make location of specific mail items more manageable.

Abstract: An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.

Abstract: Improved keyboard accelerators are provided for executing functionalities of a software application utilizing text-based and non text-based buttons or controls. Upon selection of a prescribed keyboard accelerator initiation key, for example, the “Alt” key, a keyboard accelerator key tip in the form of a small window is displayed over the functionality buttons or controls displayed in a deployed user interface. Each key tip is labeled with one or more text characters for informing a user as to a secondary keyboard selection that must be made to execute the associated functionality.

Abstract: Systems and methodologies for providing improved input and output capabilities for computing devices are provided herein. An output manager is provided that can determine an appropriate layout for a user interface at a display area based on size and shape parameters associated with the display area. The output manager can additionally sense alterations to the display area and dynamically adjust a determined layout based on the sensed alterations. Further, the output manager can facilitate the connection of an associated device to one or more external display devices to facilitate the combined use of the external display devices and resident display areas at the associated device. An input manager is additionally provided that can obtain input from a target user by sensing patterns associated with the target user and select an appropriate input based on the sensed patterns.

Abstract: Multiple pieces of information can be arranged into a single construct that allows the employee to ascertain information quickly while at her workstation. Selection of information for placement into the construct can employ various statistical models and the like. Selective pieces of information can be masked for a user's construct based upon access rights of the user. Constructs can be configured by a user based on personal preferences as well as by an administrator. Population of metadata upon the construct can be performed automatically through an instruction of the administrator or be overridden by a user request. In addition, various types of synchronization can be implemented between constructs, such that identical or near-identical information is populated upon multiple constructs.

Abstract: Providing for generation of a task oriented data structure that can correlate natural language descriptions of computer related tasks to application level commands and functions is described herein. By way of example, a system can include an activity translation component that can receive a natural language description of an application level task. Furthermore, the system can include a language modeling component that can generate the data structure based on an association between the description of the task and at least one application level command utilized in executing the computer related task. Once generated, the data structure can be utilized to automate computer related tasks by input of a human centric description of those tasks. According to further embodiments, machine learning can be employed to train classifiers and heuristic models to optimize task/description relationships and/or tailor such relationships to the needs of particular users.

Abstract: Computer applications commonly have various services that improve application functionality for a user. Different services can be applied to other sources, such as other applications, and users can perform functionality upon the other sources. This not only provides a user with greater options in using a source, but can also provide a user with a more familiar context when using the source.

Abstract: To increase command-access efficiency and to optimize a user's available user interface work space, an improved user interface is provided for displaying logical groupings of selectable software functionality controls that are associated with one or more selected top-level functionalities. Upon selection of a top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the top-level functionality tab are divided into logical groupings and are presented in a customizable functionality control section below the tab. Upon selection of a different top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the subsequently selected top-level functionality tab may either replace the first functionality control section or may be displayed in a separate functionality control section adjacent to the first functionality control section if real estate is available in the user interface.

Abstract: A narrow mode navigation pane is provided that may be selectively displayed as a replacement of a normal mode or full-size navigation pane to allow more display space for other user interface content. The narrow mode navigation pane is divided into sections, each section including selectable controls for providing data or functionality previously displayed in and selectable from the normal mode navigation pane. Selection of a “Navigation Pane” control causes the temporary display of a pop-up version of the normal mode navigation pane for allowing a user to view and/or select the full contents of the normal size navigation pane without toggling to the normal mode navigation pane. Additional sections of the narrow mode navigation pane may include selectable controls representing a subset of controls from the normal mode pane and for launching other software applications and associated user interfaces.

Abstract: Providing for generating an executive report of business or personal activity is described herein. By way of example, such executive report can identify a change and related cause with respect to a prior report. As a particular example, an inference engine can receive an activity report and reference prior reports to identify the change and related cause. A set of results containing such information can be provided to a synthesis component that can include and highlight such information in the executive report. In addition, additional sources of data can be referenced in order to include and/or customize the report to a particular individual, organization, culture, or the like. As described, aspects of the subject innovation can provide an executive report highlighting important aspects of data and tailoring those aspects to interests of one or more users.

Abstract: Copying and pasting information from one application to another allows identical information to be present in multiple locations. Pasted information can be updated based on changes to the source of the pasted information. With updating pasted information, the information can remain identical in both locations even if a change takes place after the paste.

Abstract: Providing for summarization and analysis of audio content is described herein. By way of example, an oral conversation can be analyzed, such that points of interest within the oral conversation can be identified and file locations related to such points of interest can be marked. Points of interest can be inferred based on a level of energy, e.g., excitement, pitch, tone, pace, or the like, associated with one or more speakers. Alternatively, or in addition, speaker and/or reviewer activity can form the basis for identifying points of interest within the conversation. Moreover, a compilation of the identified points of interest and portions of the original oral conversation related thereto can be assembled. As described herein, audio content can be succinctly summarized with respect to inferred and/or indicated points of interest, to facilitate an efficient and pertinent review of such content.

Abstract: An out-space actuator is selected to access an out-space user interface for a document editor program. An out-space actuator is associated with an in-space user interface having a displayed document. When the out-space actuator is selected, an out-space user interface is displayed that includes an expanded feature selection surface.

Abstract: Providing persisting search folders within a computer that continuously identify data items having metadata matching a query of search criteria. A query of search criteria formulated via a graphical user interface is applied to a search filter to create a search folder. When the search folder is made live, the search filter is used to search one or more data stores for data items having metadata matching the query of search criteria. Upon finding these data items, the search folder is populated with a link to each data item having metadata matching the query of search criteria. The search folder detects when any new data items are added to a data store and when a change occurs to any metadata of data items previously stored in a data store. Upon detection, the search folders store links to matching new or changed data items.