Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of controlling communications occurring in a unified communications system. As described herein, a directory is established at a server system that hosts the unified communications system. The directory includes a plurality of hierarchically-organized categories. Each category specifies a set of users. One or more conferences may be associated with each of the categories. All communications occurring in the unified communications system occur within the context of one of the conferences. A user can only communicate within a conference if the conference is associated with the category that specifies a set of users that includes the user. By appropriately structuring the categories in the directory and the sets of users specified by the categories, the techniques of this disclosure may serve to prevent a user from using the unified communications system to communicate with certain other individuals.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of controlling communications occurring in a unified communications system. As described herein, a directory is established at a server system that hosts the unified communications system. The directory includes a plurality of hierarchically-organized categories. Each category specifies a set of users. One or more conferences may be associated with each of the categories. All communications occurring in the unified communications system occur within the context of one of the conferences. A user can only communicate within a conference if the conference is associated with the category that specifies a set of users that includes the user. By appropriately structuring the categories in the directory and the sets of users specified by the categories, the techniques of this disclosure may serve to prevent a user from using the unified communications system to communicate with certain other individuals.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of controlling communications occurring in a unified communications system. As described herein, a directory is established at a server system that hosts the unified communications system. The directory includes a plurality of hierarchically-organized categories. Each category specifies a set of users. One or more conferences may be associated with each of the categories. All communications occurring in the unified communications system occur within the context of one of the conferences. A user can only communicate within a conference if the conference is associated with the category that specifies a set of users that includes the user. By appropriately structuring the categories in the directory and the sets of users specified by the categories, the techniques of this disclosure may serve to prevent a user from using the unified communications system to communicate with certain other individuals.

Abstract: In general, this disclosure describes techniques of controlling communications occurring in a unified communications system. As described herein, a directory is established at a server system that hosts the unified communications system. The directory includes a plurality of hierarchically-organized categories. Each category specifies a set of users. One or more conferences may be associated with each of the categories. All communications occurring in the unified communications system occur within the context of one of the conferences. A user can only communicate within a conference if the conference is associated with the category that specifies a set of users that includes the user. By appropriately structuring the categories in the directory and the sets of users specified by the categories, the techniques of this disclosure may serve to prevent a user from using the unified communications system to communicate with certain other individuals.

Abstract: A conference management system is described for administering large numbers of conferences in an organization. The conference management system receives a hierarchical set of categories from a system administrator and configuration settings for each category. When a user requests to create a new conference, the conference management system creates the conference and assigns the new conference to a category. The conference takes on the settings of the category to which it belongs, which eliminates individual configuration of each conference. Administrators can also delegate authority to manage conferences to others in the organization.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information management and collaboration system and method for managing information flow in real time. A real time chat communication channel provides a link for users to interact in a customized setting. Users are provided with such customizable features as contextual transcripts, parameterized input and output panels, channel management, contact management and application interaction. The system and method disclosed allows information to be managed in a customized environment based on user preferences. Further, the system and method disclosed provide a highly configurable environment for interaction with other information and collaboration systems, as well as other utility application programs.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatus for measuring the effect of an online advertisement campaign on online behavior (searches relevant to the campaign and/or click activity on particular sponsored, algorithmic, and/or third-party links) of exposed users who have received a campaign advertisement. Online events of exposed and unexposed users are logged during a pre-campaign period (before any users receive any campaign advertisements) and a campaign period (when exposed users receive a campaign advertisement). A variety of behavior measurements and metrics may be determined using the logged user events. A metric may indicate the difference of an online activity between exposed and unexposed users during the campaign period or between exposed users during the pre-campaign and campaign periods. A metric may indicate the campaign's effect on an online activity by exposed users during the pre-campaign and campaign period in comparison to the online activity by unexposed users during the same periods.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for generating reports and other outputs from a computer program. A user first defines a focus area, composed of chosen data types and then creates a row definition for the focus area. In defining the row definition the user defines groups and subgroups from the data represented by the focus. This definition process allows the user to generate reports from data organized in similar rows. The user has the ability to define the data to be included in the report through the use of an expression. The expression can also be used to exclude data from the report. Additional embodiments allow the user to verify the use of data and if the data has been used multiple times, and to capture on the output the missings and duplicates.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information management and collaboration system and method for managing information flow in real time. A real time chat communication channel provides a link for users to interact in a customized setting. Users are provided with such customizable features as contextual transcripts, parameterized input and output panels, channel management, contact management and application interaction. The system and method disclosed allows information to be managed in a customized environment based on user preferences. Further, the system and method disclosed provide a highly configurable environment for interaction with other information and collaboration systems, as well as other utility application programs.

Abstract: A network management system is provided that allows a user to configure multiple devices according to a consistent set of policies. The system includes a device learning module that can read configuration data from a network device and automatically match that configuration data to existing policies and components of policies within the system. The device learning module also identifies unknown configuration data, which does not match any existing policy. The system further includes a grammar builder that can parse the unknown configuration data and construct a component or policy from the unknown data, by matching the unknown data to a grammar of configuration commands for the network device. The system also provided auditing capabilities, where policies are compared to running network configurations, and differences are identified.