Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a storage area is provided within a particular home for storing food-related items. A database of intended food-related inventory items for the storage area is adjusted by a controller according to food-related inventory preferences received at the controller. The controller updates the database of intended food-related inventory items according to inputs from a monitoring device that monitors the addition and removal of food-related items within the storage area. A communication medium coupled to the controller transmits a selection of items from among the database of intended inventory items that are absent from the storage area.

Abstract: A method for presenting content from the page in a distributed database. In a preferred embodiment, a server receives a request from a client for a page from the database wherein the page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database. The server retrieves the page and generates a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database. The server then sends the page and the set of thumbnails to the client.

Abstract: In accordance with the method, system, and program of the present invention, consumer preferences designated for a user are transmitted in a transmittable data format from a portable data processing system associated with the user to multiple independent server systems each associated with a consumer provider from among multiple diverse consumer providers. Specialized services and products from each of the diverse consumer providers are designated for the user at each of the independent server systems, in response to comparing the consumer preferences for the user with a database of services and products at each of the independent server systems.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, ingredients for a particular electronic recipe accessible at a particular web site are encrypted, wherein the encrypted ingredients may be decrypted by a food retailer that intends to pre-package the encrypted ingredients. Instructions for preparing the electronic recipe and the encrypted ingredients are transmitted to a computer system associated with a particular user. The particular user may select the food retailer at which the encrypted ingredients are to be pre-packaged and transmit the encrypted ingredients to the food retailer. The selected food retailer may decrypt the encrypted ingredients utilizing a decryption key provided by the particular web site and pre-package the encrypted ingredients for the particular user.

Abstract: A method for presenting content from the page in a distributed database. In a preferred embodiment, a server receives a request from a client for a page from the database wherein the page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database. The server retrieves the page and generates a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database. The server then sends the page and the set of thumbnails to the client.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for automatically adjusting window representations based on activity are provided. Current activity of a window element displayed within a graphical interface is detected. A representation of the window element is automatically adjusted within the display area to reflect current activity of the window element, such that the representation of the window element is graphically represented. In particular, the window element representation may include a minimized icon or an open window. Further, window element activity may include use of the window element, adjustments to the transparency of the window element representation or current resource usage associated with the window element.

Abstract: In accordance with the method, system and program of the present invention, at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user is received from a particular exercise machine in a common transmittable data format at a portable computer system provided the particular user. Cumulative fitness activity is computed and stored for the particular user at the portable computer system utilizing the at least one type of exercise indicator signal and previously accumulated fitness activity data at the portable computer system, such that an independent portable computer system associated with the particular user monitors the real-time cumulative fitness activity of the particular user from at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine over a period of time.

Abstract: In accordance with the method, system and program of the present invention, authority-designated settings are stored on a portable data storage medium in association with a particular user, wherein the authority-designated settings designate levels of access to particular types of content as determined by multiple authorities to the particular user. Transmittal of a selection of the authority-designated settings is required from the portable data storage medium in a transmittable data format to a particular authority-enabled system from among multiple authority-enabled systems, wherein each of the multiple authority-enabled systems provides access to multiple diverse types of content. The particular user is only allowed access to a selection of the multiple types of content that are enabled according to the authority-designated settings at the particular authority-enabled system.

Abstract: A method for presenting content from the page in a distributed database. In a preferred embodiment, a server receives a request from a client for a page from the database wherein the page has a plurality of links to linked pages in the database. The server retrieves the page and generates a set of thumbnails of the linked pages in the database. The server then sends the page and the set of thumbnails to the client.

Abstract: In accordance with the method, system and program of the present invention, at least one type of exercise indicator signal associated with exercise performed by a particular user is received from a particular exercise machine in a common transmittable data format at a portable computer system provided the particular user. Cumulative fitness activity is computed and stored for the particular user at the portable computer system utilizing the at least one type of exercise indicator signal and previously accumulated fitness activity data at the portable computer system, such that an independent portable computer system associated with the particular user monitors the real-time cumulative fitness activity of the particular user from at least one type of exercise indicator signal received from at least one exercise machine over a period of time.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a storage area is provided within a particular home for storing food-related items. A database of intended food-related inventory items for the storage area is adjusted by a controller according to food-related inventory preferences received at the controller. The controller updates the database of intended food-related inventory items according to inputs from a monitoring device that monitors the addition and removal of food-related items within the storage area. A communication medium coupled to the controller transmits a selection of items from among the database of intended inventory items that are absent from the storage area.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for specifying monitored user participation in a messaging session is provided. A time status for a messaging system element is determined. The time status corresponds to a type of participation by at least one user in a messaging session. An output attribute is assigned to the messaging system element according to the time status, such that output of the messaging system element is specified to depict time status for the messaging session. A client messaging system, receiving the messaging system element with the output attribute, graphically displays the messaging system element in order to graphically reflect user participation in a messaging session.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparent resource aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, a transparent resource aid is placed within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparent resource aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.

Abstract: A current health profile for a user is monitored at a personal health monitoring system. The current health profile includes multiple monitored physical parameters and multiple monitored environmental parameters. Multiple actions for selection by the user are received at the personal health monitoring system. The multiple actions are prioritized according to the current health profile and designated allowances for the user at the personal health monitoring system, such that the personal health monitoring system aids the user in selecting from among the multiple actions in order to balance the comprehensive health of the user. Multiple tasks for scheduling in a user's electronic schedule are scheduled according to the current health profile and designated allowances for the user at the personal health monitoring system.

Abstract: A method, system, and program for changing the alpha levels of an application window to reflect the status of a non-interactive computing task are provided. An alpha level is determined to represent a status of a non-interactive computing task. A transparency of at least a selected portion of a displayable object associated with the non-interactive computing task is graphically adjusted according to the alpha level, such that the status of the non-interactive computing task is displayed by the associated displayable object, where one type of displayable object includes an application window.

Abstract: A method, system and program for selectively adjusting transparency of windows within a user interface are provided. An n-level is determined within a z-order of at least one displayable object from among multiple displayable objects distributed within the z-order. A transparency level is selectively adjusted of the at least one displayable object within a user interface positioned at the n-level within the z-order, such that the transparency level of the at least one displayable object is selectively adjusted without adjusting the z-order of the displayable objects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting programs and source code files written in a programming language to equivalent markup language files is provided. The conversion may be accomplished by a static process or by a dynamic process. In a static process, a programming source code file is converted by an application to a markup language file. A document type definition file for a markup language is parsed; a source code statement from a source code file is parsed; an element defined in the document type definition file is selected based on an association between the element and an identifier of a routine in the source code statement; and the selected element is written to a markup language file. In a dynamic process, the program is executed to generate the markup language file that corresponds to the source code file or presentation steps of the program.

Abstract: The refinement of existing search output. The present invention further improves upon the prior art in that: (1) it provides a means for employing the automation of the selection process; (2) it further provides for the elimination of the need to manually reformulate the search, which is very tedious; and (3) the use of weighted logic processes to refine the search.

Abstract: According to the present invention, dietary needs designated for a particular user are received in a common transmittable data format at a data processing system associated with a particular home base, wherein the data processing system has access to multiple electronic recipes. The dietary needs designated for the particular user are compared with a selection of electronic recipes that are preparable at the particular home base from among the multiple accessible electronic recipes. At least one meal plan is designated from among the selection of electronic recipes that satisfies the dietary needs of the particular user, such that an electronic meal plan is specified on said data processing system for preparation at a particular home base according to dietary needs of a particular user.

Abstract: A method, system and program for displaying transparency characteristic aids are provided. A user interface is displayed comprising at least one displayable object within a display area controlled by a computer system. Responsive to an initiating event, placing a transparency characteristic aid within the display area in association with the initiating event, such that the at least one displayable object is not obscured by the transparency characteristic aid. The transparency resource aid may indicate resource usage of hardware, software, and graphical characteristics.