Abstract: A first portion of certain information is displayed in a window of a computerized display device. The window includes a scroll bar to control scrolling of the window through the information. The information includes a succession of objects. Context is indicated for the information by displaying indicators representing respective ones of the objects, including ones of the objects that are outside the first portion of the information that is displayed in the window. The indicators are displayed in an area of the window, including an area within the scroll bar. In another aspect, positions of the indicators represent relative positions of the objects within the information. In a still further aspect, displayed attributes of the indicators represent the type of the objects represented by the respective indicators.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling localization support on Web applications in response to an activation of a locale object is disclosed. The system updates a Web browser's localization parameters in response to dragging and dropping the locale object containing client localization information content onto the Web browser. Additionally, the Java virtual machine within the Web browser updates its locale information and reformats all its applets based on the localization information content. The Web browser then sends a locale event message and the localization information content to a server. The server updates its locale information and associated server side Java virtual machine and further uses the localization information for all the Java servlets within the server side Java virtual machine. The server then formats and delivers an HTML for display to the client based on the localization information content.

Abstract: A bookmark display method executable in a computer system having a processor, a display and a browser. The display method begins by associating a rating with a given bookmark entry (e.g., a bookmark or bookmark set) and then storing the bookmark entry with the rating. Upon a subsequent request to display the browser's bookmarks, the given bookmark entry is displayed with a user-selectable visual cue. Moreover, access to the given bookmark entry may be selectively inhibited if the bookmark rating has a given property. Bookmark rating values defined at a server also may be selectively displayed, modified and managed.

Abstract: A system and method for using write-and-destroy transaction cards which cannot be reprogrammed. The write-and-destroy transaction cards are programmed (i.e., written to) at bit increments representing, in total, the stated value of the card. The stated value may be represented in one or a plurality of denominations and currencies. In use, the remaining value of a card can be ascertained at a merchant location by reading those bits which have not been erased. The remaining value can additionally be confirmed by contacting the issuing financial institution using a unique serial number which may be encoded onto each transaction card. Upon confirmation that the card has sufficient value to conduct the desired transaction, the card is decremented by erasure of the bits representing that value.

Abstract: A telephone user sets up a “personalized” menu identifying a set of information options from which he or she desires to select when placed on-hold in a telephone system. The user's personal preferences are then saved. When the party later makes a call to a telephone system or is called, and then is placed on-hold, the party's telephone service provider or local equipment accesses the user's personalized menu and offers the one or more information options as defined in the menu. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized menu options are voiced over the telephone line and the user then makes selections using keypad (i.e. DTMF signaling) or voice input. A response may be interrupted to make another menu selection, or to repeat the current response. If the response being played has not completed when the other party returns, that response is suspended and may be completed when the user is placed back on hold or the call is completed.

Abstract: A system and method facilitating online shopping at different merchant sites is provided. A client-based shopping cart application generates an online shopping cart usable at plural merchant sites. The shopping cart application can be a browser plug-in running on a remote client computer. The client shopping cart application stores product and shopper configuration information locally on the client computer and allows the exchange of information between merchant sites and the shopping client. The client shopping cart can contain items from different merchant sites. At check-out time, the shopping cart application seamlessly transfers information about the purchaser and the items in the shopping cart to the various merchant sites. The client shopping cart can be configured to limit various shopping attributes, such as the sites that can be visited, the amount that can be spent shopping, the time of day that shopping can take place, as well as language and currency limitations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for selectively caching web information in a cache for a browser. Web content is first retrieved by the browser during a browsing session. The web content is parsed for an indication of how the page should be stored. The web content is then stored using the indication. For example, retrieved web content may be parsed for an indication that the web content is to be removed after the browsing session terminates. Responsive to identifying the indication, the web content is cleared from the cache in response to the browsing session terminating.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product for creating and using a priced object are provided. The priced object according to the present invention may include an item identifier, offer terms for the sale of the item, an identifier of the goods/services provider that is making the offer, and authentication information for authenticating the priced object. The priced object may be generated and stored for later use by a client device when performing on-line shopping with another goods/services provider. The other goods/services provider may authenticate the priced object to verify that the priced object is not fraudulent and may then make determinations as to whether to meet or beat the terms of the offer described in the priced object. If the other goods/services provider decides to meet or beat the offer provided in the priced object, the client device may request a new priced object with the other goods/services provider's new offer terms.

Abstract: A party who makes a telephone call (a “calling party”) sets up a “personalized” menu identifying a set of information options from which he or she desires to select when placed on-hold in a telephone system. The user's personal preferences are then saved. When the party later makes a call to a telephone system and is placed on-hold, the telephone system accesses the user's personalized menu and offers the one or more information options as defined in the menu. In an illustrative embodiment, the personalized menu options are voiced over the telephone line and the calling party then makes selections using keypad (i.e. DTMF signaling) or voice input. A response may be interrupted to make another menu selection, or to repeat the current response. If the response being played has not completed when the called party answers, that response is suspended and may be completed when the caller is placed back on hold or the call is completed.

Abstract: A bookmark set is created from search results. First, a search request from a client browser is sent for pages in a distributed database which satisfy a search condition. A set of pages which satisfy the search condition are returned. In the page which presents the search results, each page is associated with a user input sensitive selection means, such as a checkbox. Responsive to user input, i.e. selection of certain pages, a bookmark set comprised of a path to selected pages is created. The created bookmark set is served as a unit to the client browser.

Abstract: A system and method for using write-and-destroy transaction cards which cannot be reprogrammed. The write-and-destroy transaction cards are programmed (i.e., written to) at bit increments representing, in total, the stated value of the card. The stated value may be represented in one or a plurality of denominations and currencies. In use, the remaining value of a card can be ascertained at a merchant location by reading those bits which have not been erased. The remaining value can additionally be confirmed by contacting the issuing financial institution using a unique serial number which may be encoded onto each transaction card. Upon confirmation that the card has sufficient value to conduct the desired transaction, the card is decremented by erasure of the bits representing that value.

Abstract: One or more searchable repositories of bookmark sets are stored in a computer system, each bookmark set can be downloaded to a client browser as a unit. Each bookmark set contains a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and is associated with related information such as a set of keywords, one or more topics and user specific information. The bookmark set is downloadable as a unit to the client browser. When a search query from a client containing a set of keywords is received, the stored bookmark sets are searched for one or more bookmark sets associated with at least one keyword matching a keyword from the search query. A list of bookmark sets which satisfy the query, i.e. are associated with matching keywords, are returned to the client browser. Responsive to a request for downloading a selected bookmark set, the selected bookmark is served to the client. The selected bookmark set is received and used by the client browser to access the set of URLs in the selected bookmark set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting, storing and retrieving information, including duration of view time, concerning advertisements included with Web pages seen by a particular user and thereafter using the stored information in controlling access of that user to subsequent Web pages.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the actual viewing of advertisements contained in Web pages or the like, recording the detected information, and transmitting the recorded information when necessary. The above noted features are accomplished through the use of a Java Applet in combination with JavaScripts (or other Dynamic HTML language) and cookies.

Abstract: One or more searchable repositories of bookmark sets are stored in a computer system, each bookmark set can be downloaded to a client browser as a unit. Each bookmark set contains a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and is associated with related information such as a set of keywords, one or more topics and user specific information. The bookmark set is downloadable as a unit to the client browser. When a search query from a client containing a set of keywords is received, the stored bookmark sets are searched for one or more bookmark sets associated with at least one keyword matching a keyword from the search query. A list of bookmark sets which satisfy the query, i.e. are associated with matching keywords, are returned to the client browser. Responsive to a request for downloading a selected bookmark set, the selected bookmark is served to the client. The selected bookmark set is received and used by the client browser to access the set of URLs in the selected bookmark set.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product to facilitate royalty collection with respect to online distribution of electronically published material over a computer network. In one embodiment, a method for managing use of a digital file (that includes content subject to copyright protection on behalf of some content provider) begins by establishing a count of a number of permitted copies of the digital file. In response to a given protocol, a copy of the digital file is then selectively transferred from a source to a target. Thus, for example, the source and target may be located on the same computer with the source being a disk storage device and the target being a rendering device (e.g., a printer, a display, a sound card or the like). The method logs an indication each time the digital file is transferred from the source to a target rendering device, and the count is decremented upon each transfer. When the count reaches a given value (e.g.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining rates chargeable to advertisers based upon the actual viewing time for which their advertisements were seen by a given user. This is accomplished through the use of a advertisement control plug in combination with a file used during times in which the user is not connected to the Internet or other applicable network.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are presented for determining actual viewing times electronic advertisements were seen by a user of a Web browser or the like while viewing documents containing advertisements. A timing manager JAVA application in combination with JAVA scripts or other dynamic HTML and cookies are used in this determination.

Abstract: A method in a communications system for transferring cash is provided. The cash is sent in an electronic form to a phone. The cash may be requested from a financial institution using a cash transfer request. The phone stores the electronic cash for use in purchasing goods and services from a merchant. The cash is transferred to a merchant by calling a Payment Access Number.

Abstract: One or more searchable repositories of bookmark sets are stored in a computer system, each bookmark set can be downloaded to a client browser as a unit. Each bookmark set contains a set of Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) and is associated with related information such as a set of keywords, one or more topics and user specific information. The bookmark set is downloadable as a unit to a client browser. When a search query from a client containing a set of keywords is received, the stored bookmark sets are searched for one or more bookmark sets associated with at least one keyword matching a keyword from the search query. A list of bookmark sets which satisfy the query, i.e. are associated with matching keywords, are returned to the client browser. Responsive to a request for downloading a selected bookmark set, the selected bookmark is served to the client. The selected bookmark set is received and used by the client browser to access the set of URLs in the selected bookmark set.