Abstract: A scroll-based volume controller detects a user selection to scroll through a browser window loaded with data comprising at least one display element, wherein an audio element is associated with the display element and wherein the size of the displayable data is larger than the display area of the browser window. The scroll-based volume controller, responsive to detecting the user selection to scroll through the browser window, calculates a change in position of the display element relative to the browser window. The audio element may include an audio file that is downloaded or streamed to the browser.

Abstract: A method, system, and program are provided for managing customer access to a communication recorded by a provider in association with a transaction between the customer and the provider. A communication system for the provider detects a selection to record a communication between a customer and a provider in association with a particular transaction between the customer and the provider. The communication system records the communication and stores the communication in a database in association with the particular transaction. In addition, the communication system facilitates an interface for the customer to access the recorded communication from the database. The recorded communication may include at least one of a voice communication, a still image of the customer, a video clip of the customer, and a text communication.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for configuring a set of devices for a given machine attached to a storage area network. The initial program load firmware and network adapter firmware for each machine on the storage area network are modified to query a storage area network appliance for lists of devices. The storage area network appliance may be identified by a world wide name and may store lists of boot devices, root volume group devices, primary devices, and secondary devices for each machine on the storage area network. The storage area network appliance then listens for queries and returns the appropriate list of devices based on query type and/or boot type. The boot type for a machine may be set to normal boot, maintenance boot, or install boot.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for providing access authentication of users attempting to gain access to a network based on connection orientation parameters to prevent security breaches of the network. In general, after a connection is requested to gain access to a networked computer, all router addresses through which the request went is gathered and compared to a well-known set of firewall router addresses (for example, of known companies) to determine the validity of the request. If one of the gathered addresses match the well-known set of firewall address, the request is deemed to have come from the other side of the firewall and the connection is denied. As such, in an intranet networking environment that uses a firewall, the present invention will provide computer users of the intranet protection from unauthorized access by others that do not have access past the firewall.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for managing software packages that are to be installed on a computer by automatically de-installing previously installed software based on user defined preferences to prevent trial, demo or unwanted software and its components from being unnecessarily kept on the user's computer. The present invention includes a de-install module that is associated with the process of installing software on the computer. The de-install module includes a time module that allows the user to choose the time period to keep the software package on the computer before the software is uninstalled.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and managing a plurality of storage devices in a computer network. The present invention creates a common root storage device, which stores files that are shared among several computers in the network, and a custom root storage device, which store files specific to a single computer. The method of the present invention includes creating common and custom root storage devices within the network, recognizing these devices during startup (boot) of a network computer and updating the common root storage devices as needed. In a preferred embodiment, multiple common root storage devices are used so that an alternate common root storage device may be updated while the primary common root storage device is in use. The present invention also includes a system for creating and managing storage devices on computers within the computer network using the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for configuring a set of devices for a given machine attached to a storage area network. The initial program load firmware and network adapter firmware for each machine on the storage area network are modified to query a storage area network appliance for lists of devices. The storage area network appliance may be identified by a world wide name and may store lists of boot devices, root volume group devices, primary devices, and secondary devices for each machine on the storage area network. The storage area network appliance then listens for queries and returns the appropriate list of devices based on query type and/or boot type. The boot type for a machine may be set to normal boot, maintenance boot, or install boot.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for creating markers on scroll bars of a graphical user interface. Basically, the present invention allows users to reference locations of interest within a document using scroll bars of a user interface by creating graphical halt and pause points on the scroll bar at the locations of interest. In general, the present invention includes a user interface with a digital document of an application being used by a user. The application has at least a vertical scroll bar for moving from one location to another within the digital document. The scroll bar includes a scroll box, stub points and end points. The stub points represent reference points within the digital document that are predefined by the user. The stub points either stop or pause the movement of the scroll box as it moves along the scroll bar. The end points represent the top and bottom portion of the digital document.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for managing software packages that are to be installed on a computer. Basically, the present invention automatically de-installs previously installed software based on user defined preferences to prevent trial, demo or unwanted software and its components from being unnecessarily kept on the user's computer. In general, the present invention includes a de-install module that is associated with the process of installing software on the computer. The de-install module includes a time module that allows the user to choose the time period to keep the software package on the computer before the software is uninstalled. The de-install module can be initiated at the start-up of the computer and then go into a temporary hidden mode that stills stays resident. In other words, during this mode, the de-install module is active, but hidden from the user and only activated when a software package initiates installation on the computer.

Abstract: A no-integrity management method and system for managing logical volumes of a computer system. The no-integrity refers to the fact that the availability status of each partition within the mirrored logical volumes is not written to a direct access storage device but instead stored within a volatile memory. When the computer system is shutdown the availability status information is discarded, and the availability status of each partition is marked as active upon first open of a partition after startup of the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for providing access authentication of users attempting to gain access to a network based on connection orientation parameters to prevent security breaches of the network. In general, after a connection is requested to gain access to a networked computer, all router addresses through which the request went is gathered and compared to a well-known set of firewall router addresses (for example, of known companies) to determine the validity of the request. If one of the gathered addresses match the well-known set of firewall address, the request is deemed to have come from the other side of the firewall and the connection is denied. As such, in an intranet networking environment that uses a firewall, the present invention will provide computer users of the intranet protection from unauthorized access by others that do not have access past the firewall.

Abstract: The present invention is a management process operating on a computer system that has cached addresses and documents stored on the computer system, the process comprising displaying cache status information about the cached documents when a user digitally points to an address associated with one or more of the cached documents. After the user views the cache status information, a user chooses between load options: 1) to load the cached document; 2) to load designated portions of the document either from the cache or with newly loaded and “fresh” content; or 3) to load a completely new or “fresh” document. Further, after the chosen document is loaded, visual indicia (such as a color coding scheme or highlighting) is used to distinguish between the portions of the document that are cached and fresh. The user is then given the three load options again.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for creating markers on scroll bars of a graphical user interface. Basically, the present invention allows users to reference locations of interest within a document using scroll bars of a user interface by creating graphical halt and pause points on the scroll bar at the locations of interest. In general, the present invention includes a user interface with a digital document of an application being used by a user. The application has at least a vertical scroll bar for moving from one location to another within the digital document. The scroll bar includes a scroll box, stub points and end points. The stub points represent reference points within the digital document that are predefined by the user. The stub points either stop or pause the movement of the scroll box as it moves along the scroll bar. The end points represent the top and bottom portion of the digital document.

Abstract: A universal computer controlled display terminal provided with a withdrawable card with stored data specific to the user of said card and a process responsive to the stored data for displaying on said terminal a layout of user interactive graphics personalized to said user. The invention is very effective in display terminals including a user interactive input touch screen having said layout of graphics personalized to said user. The layout of graphics may include a set of enlarged touch pads. The layout may also include images personalized to said user. The user card may also include integrated circuitry associated with said stored data, e.g. a smartcard. The data displayed responsive to the data stored on the card may also include text personalized to the user. The text may be in a language personalized to said user, or the text may be in an enlarged character font.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing control of a picture within a picture display device having at least two windows that receive input from two different computers. The present invention permits a user to use input devices from one of these computers to control cursor movements in all windows. Moreover, the present invention allows data and images to be cut and pasted between the windows. The apparatus of the present invention includes a PWP control module that resides on each of the computers connected to the PWP display device. The PWP control device provides cursor control on the PWP display device and communicates cursor movements to the appropriate computer, depending on the cursor location. Moreover, the PWP control module includes a buffer for storing cut and paste data such that a common buffer is used to store cut and paste data from each computer.

Abstract: A system and a method for prefetching portions of a web page based on preferences learned from previous visits to the web page. The present invention includes a smarter prefetching technique that determines whether a user prefers certain sub-pages of the web page and, if so, then prefetches these preferred sub-pages prior to the other sub-pages of the web page. The set of preferred sub-pages is generated by analyzing the user's actions during previous visits to the web page. The present invention can be customized to expand or contract its ability to “learn” user preferences. In general, the system of the present invention includes a client computer having a prefetch module that performs prefetching of the web page and a learned preferences prefetch module that instructs the prefetch module which portions of the web page to prefetch. The prefetch method of the present invention includes prefetching a set of preferred sub-pages of a web page based on learned user preferences.

Abstract: A method and system for creating and managing a plurality of storage devices in a computer network. The present invention creates a common root storage device, which stores files that are shared among several computers in the network, and a custom root storage device, which store files specific to a single computer. The method of the present invention includes creating common and custom root storage devices within the network, recognizing these devices during startup (boot) of a network computer and updating the common root storage devices as needed. In a preferred embodiment, multiple common root storage devices are used so that an alternate common root storage device may be updated while the primary common root storage device is in use. The present invention also includes a system for creating and managing storage devices on computers within the computer network using the aforementioned methods.

Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a system and method for automatically configuring dialing properties of a telephone, such as a landline or mobile telephone. In general, the present invention allows a user's most often called outgoing and received incoming numbers to be easily dialed, even as the user's calling patterns change. This is accomplished by automatically and dynamically tracking, sorting, organizing and displaying the most frequently called and received telephone numbers without requiring preprogramming of the telephone. Namely, as a number is dialed less or more often, it's place in the organized hierarchy is represented.