Abstract: Methods for predicting preferred communications patterns are provided. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a request from a first user to initiate communication with a second user by a first communication method, determining a communication preference hierarchy of the second user based on a plurality of factors concerning the second user, wherein the plurality of factors include a presence state, selecting a second communication method from the communication preference hierarchy, wherein the second communication method is preferred over the first communication method in the communication preference hierarchy, and in response to the request from the first user, providing a recommendation to the first user to communicate with the second user by the second communication method. Systems and machine-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: The description relates to contact management. One example can be manifest as a system that can include a display and a processor. The processor can be configured to process instructions to create a graphical user interface on the display. The graphical user interface can include an aggregate view of contact information relating to an entity. The graphical user interface can be configured to indicate a source of individual instances of the contact information. The aggregate view can be configured to distinguish first individual instances of the contact information that are editable from second individual instances of the contact information that are read-only.

Abstract: Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Techniques for an electronic montage system are described. An apparatus may comprise a logic device arranged to execute a montage application comprising an authoring component operative to provide a presentation surface having multiple presentation tiles, receive control directives to associate content files with presentation tiles, generate tile objects for the content files based on content file types for the content files, and store the presentation surface and tile objects as a montage. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A sharing infrastructure is directed at providing a framework for sharing resources between initiators and participants. The sharing infrastructure is designed to manage and direct various sharing providers, articulate information about sharing relationships, and to provide a framework for pluggable data sharing, data discovery, schema translation, and conflict resolution. The infrastructure allows for common sharing operations to be implemented in a more centralized fashion, and eases the cost of implementing new sharing providers. An extensible and pluggable provider model eases remote and local configuration; schema mapping; and protocol handling. A sharing protocol is defined that relates to establishing and managing a sharing relationship.

Abstract: Techniques for the aggregate and hierarchical display of grouped items spanning multiple storage locations are described. Some techniques may aggregate items in response to user input identifying a scope for item retrieval. The user input may identify a scope such as selection of a local storage location or a search query for retrieving items. The aggregated items may span multiple storage locations and include items within the identified scope and related items outside the identified scope. A group of aggregated items are presented in a hierarchical display within a user interface. The hierarchical display may visually differentiate items inside and outside of the identified scope, and may identify parent-child relationship between related items. An aggregate header for the group of aggregated items may be displayed indicating total items in the group and a status for items in the group within the identified scope. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: Automatic conversation techniques are described. An apparatus may comprise a computing device having an incoming message module operative to receive an incoming message, a conversation identification module communicatively coupled to the incoming message module, the conversation identification module operative to determine the incoming message is part of a conversation thread, and associate the incoming message with the conversation thread by setting a conversation identifier property of the incoming message to a conversation identifier for the conversation thread, and a conversation manager module communicatively coupled to the conversation identification module, the conversation manager module operative to determine a conversation rule is associated with the conversation thread, and apply the conversation rule to the incoming message. Other embodiments are described and claimed.