Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media for generating a virtual world in a virtual universe are disclosed. Exemplary implementations may: generate virtual objects comprising object representations in a virtual world of a virtual universe; generate avatars comprising user representations of themselves in the virtual world; generate spatial containers within the virtual world; and process transactions regarding the virtual objects between the avatars based on evaluations of rights sets associated with the virtual objects.

Abstract: Techniques that enable a third party to author and add functionality to a target application. A third party may create or author a script that encodes the functionality to be added to the target application. The script may then be provided to and executed by the target application, where execution of the script causes the functionality to be added to the target application. In certain embodiments, the added functionality may be in the form of effects that are output via the target application when the script is executed by the target application. The effects may include audio-visual effects that are displayed or output by the target application and may also include displaying data provided by a third party.

Abstract: Techniques that enable a third party to author and add functionality to a target application. A third party may create or author a script that encodes the functionality to be added to the target application. The script may then be provided to and executed by the target application, where execution of the script causes the functionality to be added to the target application. In certain embodiments, the added functionality may be in the form of effects that are output via the target application when the script is executed by the target application. The effects may include audio-visual effects that are displayed or output by the target application and may also include displaying data provided by a third party.

Abstract: A contextually sensitive user interface for defining an e-mail message handling rule is provided. The user interface includes one or more user interface objects for specifying conditions for the rule and one or more user interface objects for defining the actions to be performed if the specified conditions are met. The conditions that are displayed within the user interface for selection are chosen, at least in part, based upon the context in which a request to create the e-mail handling rule is received. The displayed conditions may be based, in part, upon the contexts of reading an e-mail message, creating an e-mail message, creating an alert subscription, or selecting a user name.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and user interface are provided for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions from multiple sources. Alert messages and persistent state objects, such as cookies, are examined to determine whether they relate to an alert subscription. If an e-mail message or persistent state object is determined to relate to an alert subscription, a network address for a subscription source identified by the contents of the e-mail message or state object are added to a list of subscription sources. A request may then be received to manage one or more alert subscriptions. In response to the request, each subscription source identified in the list of subscription sources is validated. Each validated subscription source is added to a current subscriptions list, which is displayed to a user. Each subscription in the current subscriptions list may be modified or deleted by the user through a unified user interface for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, system, and user interface are provided for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions from multiple sources. Alert messages and persistent state objects, such as cookies, are examined to determine whether they relate to an alert subscription. If an e-mail message or persistent state object is determined to relate to an alert subscription, a network address for a subscription source identified by the contents of the e-mail message or state object are added to a list of subscription sources. A request may then be received to manage one or more alert subscriptions. In response to the request, each subscription source identified in the list of subscription sources is validated. Each validated subscription source is added to a current subscriptions list, which is displayed to a user. Each subscription in the current subscriptions list may be modified or deleted by the user through a unified user interface for managing e-mail rules and alert subscriptions.

Abstract: A on-line help module provides a method and apparatus for the presenting of recognizable topic titles to a user in response to receiving a query. The system receives a query from a user and analyzes the query with a word breaking routine so to obtain a list of keyword terms that are substantively representative of the query. Based on the list of keyword terms, certain links are located in a database that serve to link the keyword terms to relevant topic titles. A link list is formed of all the relevant links and sorted. The links also include specific substitution information associated with them for application to the associated topic title. A substitution list is formed containing all the substitution information from the various links that were located. From the substitution list, all conflicts among the substitution information are removed and, thereafter, the substitutions are performed on the topic titles in accordance with the substitution information and presented to the user.