Abstract: A computing paradigm where information can be aggregated from multiple services/programs within a ‘cloud-based’ environment is provided. Thus, the system can provide a uniform interface that can combine computational tasks across the multiple services/programs. Thus, the innovation takes advantage of the computing device being a ‘thin client’ which affords greater user comfort to a user without sacrificing data processing capabilities. Accordingly, the mechanisms are disclosed that standardize and/or normalize data across the resources within the cloud.

Abstract: Systems and methods that provide for a virtual reality entertainment system that supplies immersive entertainment and creates a sensation for a user similar to having guests in a remote location to be physically present as virtual guests. Such virtual reality entertainment system can supply a graphic and/or audio; wherein interconnected computers, video and audio processing devices, supply a live interaction between a user and a guest(s). Although guests are only present virtually (e.g., electronically present with other objects/user within the environment) such virtual invitation enables a user and guests to concurrently experience the entertainment together (e.g., a live sporting event, spectator game). In a related aspect, the subject innovation can implement holographic avatars, and a plurality of communication interfaces, to imitate (and/or transform) a relationship between the user and the virtual guests/surrounding environment.

Abstract: Personal data mining mechanisms and methods are employed to identify relevant information that otherwise would likely remain undiscovered. Users supply personal data that can be analyzed in conjunction with data associated with a plurality of other users to provide useful information that can improve business operations and/or quality of life. Personal data can be mined alone or in conjunction with third party data to identify correlations amongst the data and associated users. Applications or services can interact with such data and present it to users in a myriad of manners, for instance as notifications of opportunities.

Abstract: A computer system models human memory by deriving associations between objects, events, and the context of the computer user or users. These associations can be dynamically generated, changing depending on the behavior of the user and context. Examples of areas in which this system can be used include time management (e.g., a calendar that presents time-based groupings of objects), people management (e.g., use analysis of user communications to rank importance of people to the user, groupings, and associations between people/groups and other objects such as documents, email), and general computer management (e.g., use analysis of user behavior to identify important objects and objects that are related to a current focus and context of the computer user).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology for automatic clusterization and display of data items in a local or remote database system. Such clusterization can be based on properties associated with the data items such as a type, location, people, date, time, user-defined, and so forth, wherein an initial property may be employed to form a first level of clusterization and a subsequent property may be automatically determined to form an optimized clusterization from which to find and retrieve desired information. A computerized interface for organizing and retrieving data is provided. The interface includes a property analyzer to determine an item distribution for at least two cluster properties and an organizer that forms new clusters based in part on the item distribution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methodology for automatic clusterization and display of data items in a local or remote database system. Such clusterization can be based on properties associated with the data items such as a type, location, people, date, time, user-defined, and so forth, wherein an initial property may be employed to form a first level of clusterization and a subsequent property may be automatically determined to form an optimized clusterization from which to find and retrieve desired information. A computerized interface for organizing and retrieving data is provided. The interface includes a property analyzer to determine an item distribution for at least two cluster properties and an organizer that forms new clusters based in part on the item distribution.

Abstract: A method identifies components associated with a first end point in an environment, such as a social environment. The method further identifies components associated with a second end point in the environment. A determination is made regarding whether any of the identified components are associated with both the first end point and the second end point. The method then displays relationships between the first end point, the second end point, and any components associated with both the first end point and the second end point.

Abstract: A unique menu user interface that facilitates more efficient viewing and selection of menu items is provided. The menu user interface involves arranging a plurality of menu items around a semicircular portion of an action area. The action area is constructed by creating a circle centered about a cursor or pointer. Thus, the menu items are arranged in an arc-like manner to one side of the action area to allow the user to interact with other onscreen content apart from the menu and menu items. Each menu item also includes an extension or extended portion that extends from the rectangular portion of the menu item to about the center of the semicircle. The extension on each menu item creates a larger selectable area for each item. In addition, it allows each item to have a distinct visual shape or appearance, both of which improve the user's viewing and selection capabilities.

Abstract: A unique system, user interface, and method that facilitate sharing objects in a query-based storage environment are provided. A query can be generated using metadata and the results therefrom can be obtained and shared with one or more recipients. The query and/or query results can be represented as an icon. Sharing of the query and/or query results can be accomplished in part by dragging the icon to the desired recipient. Queries can be shared as a standing query or a snapshot of the query. For standing queries, recipients can be notified when a set of query results changes. In general, queries can be saved by the user and accessed again at a later time. The user interface provides a plurality of navigation tools to facilitate the viewing of objects based on their metadata and the generation of queries.

Abstract: Social information, including computer communication information, is modeled according to a network approach, and users are provided with representations of patterns within their social spaces and graphical interface tools for navigating through the spaces. This can enhance the user's ability to seek out social information and manage their online social relationships. The social mapping includes automatically collecting computer communication information relating to multiple contacts who are in computer communication with each other, one of the multiple contacts being a selected user. The computer communication information is filtered according to one or more preselected criteria to maintain the number of contacts associated with the selected user at or below a selected threshold. The computer communication information is analyzed to determine extents of similarity between the multiple contacts.

Abstract: Social information, including computer communication information, is modeled according to a network approach, and users are provided with representations of patterns within their social spaces and graphical interface tools for navigating through the spaces. This can enhance the user's ability to seek out social information and manage their online social relationships. The social mapping includes automatically collecting computer communication information relating to multiple contacts who are in computer communication with each other, one of the multiple contacts being a selected user. The computer communication information is filtered according to one or more preselected criteria to maintain the number of contacts associated with the selected user at or below a selected threshold. The computer communication information is analyzed to determine extents of similarity between the multiple contacts.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates a controlled communication environment which allows a user to participate in a plurality of privacy contexts with other people in a simultaneous manner in an online community. A user can assign or define varying levels of privacy to his/her information or content to control the visibility of such information by others. In particular, a first user can maintain one or more “gardens” or stores of content which may be accessible to at least a subset of the online community. Access to the contents of any one garden can be based on the privacy level of the garden and the privacy level (e.g., access parameters) granted to the person. The privacy levels and arrangement of content can be hierarchal and/or non-overlapping. Thus, a user can seamlessly communicate with multiple users at the same time regardless of their context or privacy level while maintaining the privacy boundaries of each garden.

Abstract: A store of interfaced software objects are distributed between a server computer and multiple client computers to support an object oriented application communication environment that provides communication between multiple software applications. The application communication environment may include a central shared object store of interfaced software objects that operate on a server computer and communicate with one or more software applications on the server computer. A local shared object store of interfaced software objects operates on each client computer and communicates with the central shared object store and one or more software applications on that client computer. Changes to interfaced software objects in the local shared object stores are automatically and dynamically propagated to the interfaced software objects in the central shared object store.

Abstract: A novel system that facilitates monitoring and/or updating data contained within a plurality of network devices. The system includes a file system user interface (UI) that can render a unified representation of the content across multiple stores corresponding to a plurality of disparate network devices. The UI facilitates searching and/or browsing content of a plurality of disparate devices via a single unified experience. Another feature of the invention is that it allows for sharing and/or synchronizing without the use of conventional folders. The invention provides for a metadata-centric view of user content (e.g., files) wherein files can be grouped by type, date, author, etc., without regard to the physical location of the content. Additionally, the invention separates or distinguishes (e.g., decouples) the synchronization of metadata (e.g., author, modification date) from the synchronization of the corresponding data files.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a highlight view of electronic interactions, such as, emails, instant messages, audio messages and/or video messages is provided. The highlight view can facilitate a user's understanding of the electronic interactions. The electronic interactions can comprise emails associated with conversation threads of a discussion list posted and/or received by a plurality of users. The highlight view system can include, for a given period of time, a list of participants in the discussion list, a list of conversation threads and/or a linear progression of one or more of the conversation threads. The linear progression of one or more conversation threads can include signal word(s), such as, “stated, “asked”, “responded”, “wrapped up”, “disagreed”, “agreed” etc. that facilitate a user's comprehension of the individual e-mails which form the conversation thread. An electronic interactions highlight system can include an input component that receives electronic interactions (e.g.

Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates self-regulation of a social network system based at least in part on user behavior, and in particular on good or desirable user behavior. The system and method involve monitoring user behavior such as user activity and user interactions with other users and the network itself. Several factors can be weighed to determine whether the user behavior is good. Network assets or rights can be allocated to good users in the form of gifts or trade exchange opportunities whereas less desirable or bad users may not receive such gifts or trade opportunities or assets and rights might be revoked from them. By watching user behavior and promoting good behavior in this manner, the social network can be managed and self-regulated to optimize the utilization and distribution of both limited and unlimited assets (e.g., network created and user created assets or resources).

Abstract: The subject invention provides a unique system and method that facilitates contact- or people-based organization of messages. A list of contacts can be generated based on the people or groups who have communicated with the user (mailbox owner) via email or otherwise. To view desired messages, a user can select one or more contacts that participated in the desired messages as either a recipient or sender. Following the selection, messages between the selected contacts and the user can be displayed in a window. Any items or information shared in the messages can be viewed in a separate window. A link can be maintained between any shared item and its message of origin. The user can also view messages that include third parties. The contact list is dynamic and due to limited display space, contacts communicating the most frequently with the user can be listed on a top level.

Abstract: An improved technique of querying a data store by widening the query using a series of queries that follow relations between items. Initial auxiliary queries are used to find metadata property values (rather than the actual items) that are then used in the subsequent queries. The initial queries employ one or more property values to find a related item. In response thereto, an action menu is presented for the item that facilitates widening the search for all other items with the same selected property value. The user can be presented with several choices depending on which property is used for query widening.

Abstract: A data organization system that utilizes associations, pointers and/or links in connection with novel container types is provided. A “list” is a container of items, like a folder, but is different in that a file or other data component can be accessed via multiple lists (whereas an item must appear in exactly one folder). Additionally, lists can be arranged in an arbitrarily complex graph of relationships. The items in a list can be chosen arbitrarily by the user (or by a software program) and need not have any properties in common. A “dynamic list” is a collection of file identifiers that can be built and maintained automatically by the system. The backbone of a dynamic list is a query. In operation, the system can execute a query against the file store or other data store to create or modify the list. Accordingly, associations that reference the resulting files are added to or modified in the dynamic list.

Abstract: A store of interfaced software objects are distributed between a server computer and multiple client computers to support an object oriented application communication environment that provides communication between software applications on each client computer. The application communication environment may include a central shared object store of interfaced software objects that operate on a server computer and communicate with one or more software applications on the server computer. A local shared object store of interfaced software objects operates on each client computer and communicates with the central shared object store and one or more software applications on that client computer. Changes to interfaced software objects in the local shared object stores may be automatically propagated to the interfaced software objects in the central shared object store.