Abstract: A computer object access control graphical user interface allows a user to set computer locations where a computer object may be accessed and other users who may access the computer object. The computer object may be a computer file, a computer message, person contact information, etc. The access control user interface may operate, for example, to save a computer object to one or more computer locations, and also to specify sharing of the computer object with one or more other users so that they can access the object. Saving a computer object and setting the sharing of it are together referred to as controlling access to the object, the former referring to where the object may be accessed from and the latter referring to who may access the object. This provides, therefore, a unified interface for selecting and displaying destinations that can be either a file store or a person, thereby unifying the control of access to a computer object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method to facilitate efficient and automated presentation of information to users. A decomposition component automatically decomposes an information item into sets of subcomponents in a two- or three-dimensional isometric space, and generates visualizations having interactive graphics that allow users to inspect respective subcomponents. Interface features are provided to enable hover, dwell, and clicking commands, for example, providing a variety of options to zoom in, or change configurations of the visualization in accordance with the users intentions or inferences about what they desire to see or inspect more closely. Beyond the use of decompositions into exploded views of the content of items typically viewed as singular documents, the methods can be applied to perform geometric transformations on visualizations of multiple windows and other resources based on content and activity to provide regularized visualizations of the multiple items.

Abstract: A search of an index database or another search method is conducted to identify as a preliminary results listing one or more selected computer objects having selected identifying information stored in an index database. In addition, one or more selected computer objects of the preliminary search results are correlated with one or more other computer objects that have associations with the selected computer objects of the preliminary search results. Integrated search results are then returned and include the preliminary search results and one or more other computer objects that have associations with the selected computer objects of the preliminary search results. The associations may be determined by a association system and represent relationships between computer files based upon user or other interactions between the objects. The associations between the objects may include similarities between them and their importance.

Abstract: A text discussion script data structure is stored on a computer-readable medium in association with a real-time computer discussion. The text discussion script data structure is specified by an author to guide a real-time, multi-user, text discussion or “chat.” The text discussion script includes one or more successive scenes having roles for each of one or more discussion participants. For each scene and role, the author provides instructions and background information that guide the discussion participants, but do not provide the explicit text of the real-time discussion. Accordingly, the text discussion script is adapted to guide real-time computer discussions or chats in a scalable, replicable way, while allowing participants to generate the actual discussion dialog. The text discussion script data structure may be specified by markup language tags that, together, form a markup language tag schema.

Abstract: Systems and methods for establishing a shared dynamic content experience are disclosed. A method for sharing a dynamic content experience according to the invention includes an inviter computer communicating, via a first communication path between an invitee computer and a network based communication server, an invitation to establish a shared dynamic content experience between the inviter computer and the invitee computer. If the invitation is accepted, a content sharing communication path is established between and inviter computer and the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the inviter computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the invitee computer. Information relating to a current dynamic content experience at the invitee computer is communicated, via the content sharing communication path, to the inviter computer.

Abstract: An active messaging system is associated with a short text messaging service of a digital cellular telephone system. An active messaging client is stored in a computer readable medium of a digital cellular telephone and provides interpretation and execution of an active message script included in a short text message received at the digital cellular telephone by radiant transmission. An active message gateway in communication with the short text messaging service receives short text messages from the digital cellular telephone and selectively forwards the short text messages according to whether they include an active message script. The active message script is a compact, high efficiency script compatible with execution on small devices with limited resources and processing power.

Abstract: An operating system shell provides on a display screen a graphical user interface through which a user interacts with the operating system. The operating system shell provides a background noisy display rendered on the display screen in accordance with a background physical lighting model, and an ambient notification rendered over at least a portion of the background noisy display to provide a user notification. The ambient notification is rendered in accordance with an ambient notification physical lighting model that is different from the background physical lighting model.

Abstract: An operating system shell has an underlying desktop object that is rendered according to different views. The operating system shell renders on a display screen a desktop graphical user interface with windows, tools, icons, etc. that are within a segment of the desktop object that can be observed (i.e., rendered) from one of the views. In illustrated implementations, the desktop object is of an extent that is greater than can be rendered from a single view. Allowing a user to select or access different views of the desktop object effectively provides an extended desktop that overcomes the fixed and limited display capabilities of conventional operating system shells.

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: A calendar-based interface system accommodates innate human memory by associating computer-related events, and other events, based upon when they occur. The calendar user interface system utilizes a calendar as a top-level user interface for accessing computer information. The calendar-based interface system utilizes system-wide monitoring of the user and associations between various computer files, people, and other information related to the user. This allows a user to view and assign searchable metadata (e.g., metadata relating to associated dates) and to retrieve computer information that matches selected metadata.

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: A dynamic service application is stored and executed on a mobile or wireless communication device (e.g., a cellular telephone) to enable it to be programmed without specialized hardware, software, and other proprietary information. For example, dynamic service application programs or scripts may be entered directly by a user or may be received as a wireless or radiated digital message transmission. The dynamic service application executes the dynamic service application script, which is of a format to accommodate wireless or radiated transmission and storage on the device. The dynamic service application script may be written directly by a user on a computer or a mobile communication device or may be written with the aid of scripting “wizard” software that runs on a computer and guides the writing of script without the user having to work directly with the dynamic service application script.

Abstract: A user-controlled cellular telephone positioning feature allows a cellular telephone user to correlate a user-specified location name with a cellular telephone location among one or more cells of a cellular telephone network. In one implementation, a cellular telephone location tagging application is stored and operated on a cellular telephone. The application obtains a cell identification string corresponding to a cell of a cellular telephone system with which cell the cellular telephone is in communication and allows the user to associate a location name and the cell identification string as location information for a selected location. Location data are maintained on a user's cellular telephone, and the user can selectively make the location information available others.

Abstract: A method, system and program for creating an overview image display of an environment or series of images and a detail window into the overview image display. The detail window consists of a single frame of the overview image or some corresponding image to present additional detail of the selected portion of the overview image . Additional features include the ability to interactively reposition a pointer to select another detail window corresponding to another area of the overview image . Further capabilities are provided to store selective reference points as a user interactively selects the reference points and play them back at some user initiated later time. To aid the user, the interactive selections are identified by a series of area indicias left on the display.