Abstract: A collaborative electronic mail system is integrated into traditional electronic mail on the server end. The collaborative electronic mail allows users to have online discussions without the clutter of numerous related individual electronic mails in the inbox. The collaborative electronic mail system discussed herein describes the extensions used in the server infrastructure to distribute the collaborative electronic mail. Different embodiments support different server configurations, including configurations where copies of a collaborative electronic mail message are maintained at each server associated with a recipient or author of the collaborative electronic mail message, as well as configurations where a single copy of a collaborative electronic mail message is maintained at a centralized location.

Abstract: An object having first and second intersecting hierarchies is specified. The object is illustrated with respect to the first hierarchy. The second intersecting hierarchy is presented for selection to illustrate the object with respect to the second intersecting hierarchy. In response to selecting the second intersecting hierarchy, the object is illustrated within the second intersecting hierarchy. To illustrate the object within the second intersecting hierarchy, the procedure visually morphs from the first intersecting hierarchy to the second intersecting hierarchy. This means that a first structure representing the first hierarchy is gradually changed to a second structure that represents the second hierarchy.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow, through a computer hardware resource, of information to and from computer applications. When a flow of information is initiated from one of the applications, a determination is made whether the resource is being accessed by another one of the applications and, if so, the flow of information from the first application is delayed. If not, then the flow of information is enabled. When a flow of information is initiated toward the applications, a determination is made to which one of the applications the information is flowing, and the flow is directed to that one application. A graphical interface associates, in the mind of a user, a computer hardware resource with a corresponding real office device, the computer resource enabling the computer to function like the consumer device.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow, through a computer hardware resource, of information to and from computer applications. When a flow of information is initiated from one of the applications, a determination is made whether the resource is being accessed by another one of the applications and, if so, the flow of information from the first application is delayed. If not, then the flow of information is enabled. When a flow of information is initiated toward the applications, a determination is made to which one of the applications the information is flowing, and the flow is directed to that one application. A graphical interface associates, in the mind of a user, a computer hardware resource with a corresponding real office device, the computer resource enabling the computer to function like the consumer device.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow, through a computer hardware resource, of information to and from computer applications. When a flow of information is initiated from one of the applications, a determination is made whether the resource is being accessed by another one of the applications and, if so, the flow of information from the first application is delayed. If not, then the flow of information is enabled. When a flow of information is initiated toward the applications, a determination is made to which one of the applications the information is flowing, and the flow is directed to that one application. A graphical interface associates, in the mind of a user, a computer hardware resource with a corresponding real office device, the computer resource enabling the computer to function like the consumer device.

Abstract: A method for controlling flow, through a computer hardware resource, of information to and from computer applications. When a flow of information is initiated from one of the applications, a determination is made whether the resource is being accessed by another one of the applications and, if so, the flow of information from the first application is delayed. If not, then the flow of information is enabled. When a flow of information is initiated toward the applications, a determination is made to which one of the applications the information is flowing, and the flow is directed to that one application. A graphical interface associates, in the mind of a user, a computer hardware resource with a corresponding real office device, the computer resource enabling the computer to function like the consumer device.

Abstract: A system in which a case-based search engine is integrated into a "help" database. The help database may be organized in a predetermined manner and converted by a computer program into a case-based format. An operator of a "help" program (e.g., a user who desires on-line help) may request a case-based search of the case-base using case-based methods. The case-based search provides a set of likely cases, i.e., help topics, from among which the operator may select the next help topic to view. The system may also present matched objects in response to the query, may respond to iterative refinement of the query (in similar manner to known iterative case-based methods) and may order matched objects by quality of match.