Abstract: Automatic utilization of cellular telephone device is achieved by a controller and a short-range wireless communicator mounted on a vehicle, the short-range wireless communicator having a peer-to-peer communications capability; responsive to an emergency notification message, pinging by the short-range wireless communicator a long-range communication device contemporaneously within range of the peer-to-peer communications capability, the long-range communication device being physically detached from the vehicle; subsequent to the pinging, receiving a response message indicating that user authorization is required; responsive to the response message, sending by the short-range wireless communicator to the long-range communication device a request for authorization message; subsequent to a user responding in an affirmative manner to the authorization request, receiving an authorization message to co-opt the long-range communication device; and responsive to the authorization, sending an emergency notification m

Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Abstract: A process of segmenting a single email so that portions of it may be directed to or away from select recipients is disclosed. The sender highlights portions of the email and right clicks (or key command, button, or menu item) and selects an option to select recipients. The operator interface then provides the sender with the option of selecting recipients from their address book or the server's address book. To speed the process along, the sender may select those already on the To, Cc, or Bcc distribution lists. The sender then selects whether those chosen will receive the highlighted portion or if they will be excluded from receiving it. Lastly, the sender will have the option of providing text that is unique to each of the selected groups.

Abstract: A system and method for notifying emergency responders, family, and other contact parties of an urgent vehicle condition such as a breakdown or crash, by using a short-range wireless communicator mounted on the vehicle to employ a peer-to-peer communications capability to find and co-opt a nearby long-range communication device, such as a Bluetooth enabled phone, which is not mounted on the vehicle, such as a passer's-by telephone. The invention obtains authorization from the co-opted device to use it as a forwarding proxy, and transmits a notification message to one or more parties, such as emergency dispatchers, family members, etc., via the short-range link to the co-opted device, which then transmits the message to the recipient via the long-range network, such as via a telephone network.

Abstract: An email recovery system and method. The method comprises receiving by a server system, an email from a sender. The email comprises a message for a recipient. The email is archived with a plurality of emails saved on said server system. A first copy of the email is sent to the recipient. The first copy is now unavailable to the recipient. A request to query the plurality of emails in order to search for the email is received by the server system from the recipient. The server system authenticates the request and the recipient. The server system queries the plurality of emails. The email is located as a result of the querying. The server system sends a second copy of the email to the recipient.

Abstract: A system and method for storing IM text in a repository where it can be searched by topic or participant based filters is disclosed. The repository may be a centralized database on the server side or it may be distributed in the client environment. The system comprises an IM Topic (IMT) program, an IM Filter (IMF) program, an IM save program (IMS), and an IM automatic alert (IMAL) program. The IMT program assigns topic tags to turns and topic shifts in the IM conversation. The IMF program searches the repository based on user selection of filters as well as full text search. There may be any number of topic tags. The IMS program automatically scans IM transcripts for topic tags and identifiers and saves transcripts or transcript segments that match pre-selected topic tags or identifiers to the repository.

Abstract: Parties are automatically notified mounting a controller and a peer-to-peer short-range wireless communicator on a vehicle; responsive to a vehicle urgency, pinging by the short-range communicator a long-range communication device within peer-to-peer range, the long-range device being capable of delivering a notification to a party via a wireless network which has a longer range than the peer-to-peer range, and being physically detached from the vehicle; receiving a message indicating that user authorization is required; sending a request for authorization; receiving temporary authorization to co-opt the long-range communications device to deliver the emergency notification message via the wireless network; and sending the emergency notification message from the short-range wireless communicator through the co-opted long- range communication device first over the peer-to-peer communications and second over the wireless network, to a hotline service.

Abstract: A primary broadcast receiver is automatically tuned by a secondary broadcast receiver receiving a first broadcast signal corresponding to a source of an origin program by program transition detectors detecting monochrome interprogram dead frame or closed captioning for the hearing impaired text words according to user-specified tune conditions; by a tuner controller enabling the secondary broadcast receiver and a program transition detector to begin monitoring a first broadcast signal currently tuned by the primary broadcast receiver, while allowing tuning of the primary broadcast receiver by a user, and by automatically tuning the primary broadcast receiver to the first broadcast signal upon signal by the program transition detector that one or more of the user-specific tune conditions have been met.

Abstract: A set of programs is disclosed comprising a web display interface program (WIP), a Display Configuration Program (DCP) and a Sequence Logging Program (SLP). Responsive to user actions, the set of programs provide instructions to a server connected to storage containing a facet tree database and a rules database. The WIP comprises a user interface and a set of servlets that read the facet element to be displayed from the facet tree database, and based upon the user characteristics, acquire the appropriate display rules for the user from the rules database. The DCP allows an administrator to select or configure rules that will establish views for different end users that are tailored to those particular end users. The SLP allows end users to navigate through a set of facets using a standard faceted search, or using a previously constructed sequence of facets, and logs the user choices for later use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for automatically detecting display sharing, setting display sharing status, and generating alerts in instant messaging. If the display is shared, the present invention intercepts an instant message before it is displayed and generates alerts to senders. Senders have options to display the message, delete the message, or allow the message to be queued until display is no longer shared. Alternatively, if the sender's instant messaging application supports the functionality, the mechanism of the present invention may present the user with options to display the message or allow the message to be queued until display is no longer shared without sending an alert message. A privacy list of contacts may be automatically built when integrated with a calendar system for controlling instant messaging access and behavior.

Abstract: A method and system for redisplaying or re-presenting an instant message. An instant message is received at a client and stored in a repository. The instant message is displayed in a first window which is provided by the client, and which is viewable by a user of the client. Alternatively, the message is converted to another format (e.g., speech) capable of being comprehended by the user via a non-visual sense, and presented to the user. The message is identified as being unread (or not comprehended) by the user based on pre-defined criteria. Detection of a pre-defined action prompts a search of the repository for any message identified as unread (or not comprehended). The message is located in the repository based on the search. Automatically, the message is redisplayed in a second window viewable by the user, or the message is re-presented to the user.

Abstract: A computer/telephony integrated single-point-of-contact system (CISS) enabling a user to contact another using multiple devices with a single contact attempt is disclosed. A plurality of computer programs residing in a computer use a subscriber database, authorization database, priority list database, and device attributes database to determine how to respond to a request to contact a subscriber. If the request is an emergency, the computer repeatedly contacts all of the subscriber's devices until a response is received. Otherwise, the computer contacts the subscriber's devices in a sequential order determined by the subscriber. The computer can also delete redundant un-received messages from a subscriber's devices and create a real-time connection between the requester and the subscriber, if it is technically possible, at the subscriber's request.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product for allowing a user to quickly and directly responds to a turn in an instant messaging conversation. One or more instant messaging chat conversations are displayed to a user. User input is received selecting a turn in the one of more instant messaging chat conversations. Responsive to receiving the user input selecting a turn, a user input region is provided to the user, wherein the user input region is used to receive an instant message from the user. Upon the user entering an instant message into the user input region, the message is sent to a set of participants in the instant messaging chat conversation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a computer implemented method for sending alerts. A distributed sensor receives a sound and determines whether the sound matches a preset criterion. If so, the distributed sensor transmits an event to a central portal device.

Abstract: The invention is a data processing means wherein human perceptible elements of electronic information are gathered, prepared, formatted, or otherwise processed in forming a unified collection of such information storable as a distinct entity. In particular, the invention is a process for composing and displaying a consolidated message document. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a computer program that configures a general-purpose computer to implement the inventive process. Responsive to a user's selection of a message, the inventive process identifies all related messages that the user has received, inserts the related messages into a consolidated message document, and displays the consolidated message document on the user's output device.

Abstract: A process of segmenting a single email so that portions of it may be directed to or away from select recipients is disclosed. The sender highlights portions of the email and right clicks (or key command, button, or menu item) and selects an option to select recipients. The operator interface then provides the sender with the option of selecting recipients from their address book or the server's address book. To speed the process along, the sender may select those already on the To, Cc, or Bcc distribution lists. The sender then selects whether those chosen will receive the highlighted portion or if they will be excluded from receiving it. Lastly, the sender will have the option of providing text that is unique to each of the selected groups.

Abstract: A method for updating a message on a plurality of devices from a single device comprising a Configuration Program (CP), an Audio Device Update Program (ADUP), and a Text Device Update Program (TDUP). Using the CP, the user may enable and disable the present invention, add or delete devices, create and save messages, select existing messages to play to callers or display to senders, enable automated status updates, enable multiple message levels, or enable availability updates. The automated status update automatically creates messages from the user's calendar. The multiple message levels are a hierarchy of messages in which the message sent to a caller or sender based on their identity. The availability update communicates the user's next available time to the caller or sender. The ADUP and TDUP select the appropriate message to play or send based on whether automated status updates, multiple message levels, and availability updates are enabled.

Abstract: A tagging application (TA) is disclosed that comprises a web interface program (WIP) and a tagging program (TP). The WIP presents the facet tree by displaying elements of the facet tree selected by the user along with a known activation method for the user to select a facet element and to assign a value to the selected facet or facet element. The user may proceed to manually tag each facet and facet element by selecting a value representing the facet element to be tagged. The user may also eliminate manual selection of many of the facets and facet elements by choosing a tagging scenario and then applying the tagging scenario. Once the user has selected a tagging scenario, and has indicated that it is to be applied to the facet element, the TP takes the selected value and applies the selected tagging scenario to populate the tagging for the user in accordance with the tagging scenario. Once the tagging has been populated, the tagging program returns the tagged facet tree to the user at the user interface.

Abstract: The invention is a demand-based messaging system that enables a user to mark any location in a message and share the mark with a second user. The invention comprises a messaging program operable on a plurality of computers connected by one or more communications media. The program configures a first computer to accept message data, including markers and links, from a user. A marker identifies a specific location within message data, and a link refers to a specific marker within message data. The program further configures the first computer to transfer message data to a second computer. The program further configures the second computer to display the message data as it is received, and to synchronize the display with a marker when a user activates a link that refers to the marker.

Abstract: The invention is a data processing means wherein human perceptible elements of electronic information are gathered, prepared, formatted, or otherwise processed in forming a unified collection of such information storable as a distinct entity. In particular, the invention is a process for composing and displaying a consolidated message document. The preferred embodiment of the invention is a computer program that configures a general-purpose computer to implement the inventive process. Responsive to a user's selection of a message, the inventive process identifies all related messages that the user has received, inserts the related messages into a consolidated message document, and displays the consolidated message document on the user's output device.