Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for using a localized voice mail system that allows voice mail messages on a cellular telephone network to be stored on a remote server or other computer. These messages can be stored on a server of the cellular network or of the cellular telephone service subscriber. The method further entails downloading copies of the stored messages into another computer or a cellular telephone's memory. In this embodiment, a cellular telephone can retrieve voice mail messages even when the cellular telephone is roaming or cannot pick up a carrier signal. In another embodiment, a method is described for organizing voice mail messages stored in a cellular telephone's memory into convenient groups, directories or folders formatted to be compatible with the computer and cellular telephone.

Abstract: A server-based computer file conversion, transcoding and virtual printing service available to users via a client computer using a web browser or microbrowser. The user may submit a file for conversion, indicate the source and destination file format, and subsequently receive a converted file or “printed” file from the service. The architecture of the invention allows for quick and easy incorporation of new converters, filters or transcoders without the need to distribute the converters to the client computers. Further, the invention allows vendors to provide converters and transcoders which are remotely accessible over a computer network from the conversion server.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a request to perform a file management action, such as deleting a file, and determining a current status of a file which will be acted upon as a result of the file management action. If the status of the file indicates that the file is not available to be acted upon, the file management action is placed in a queue and the status of the file is monitored. When a change in the file status indicates that the file is available to be acted upon, the file management action is executed and the queue is updated.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are disclosed for restricting access to a network using a network communications device. The network communications device includes multiple ports for providing access to a data processing system to the network. A specification of one of the multiple ports is received. A specification of a time period is also received. Access to the network is then blocked through the specified port during the specified time period.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing files in a data processing system. An attribute for a file is specified as having a special designation. The file with the attribute having the special designation is processed, by the operating system, in a different manner from other files when performing operations, such as, for example, copying the file to a removable media, printing the file, or sending the file over a network.

Abstract: A method for operation of dynamic server page engines, including opening a first dynamic server page in a first dynamic server page engine comprising a dynamic server page meta-engine, writing, to an output of the dynamic server page meta-engine, the content of the first dynamic server page, and writing to a second dynamic server page the content to be rendered by a second dynamic server page engine. Embodiments also include rendering, in the second server page engine, the second dynamic server page, providing back to the dynamic server page meta-engine as output from the rendering the second dynamic server page as rendered, and writing the second dynamic server page as rendered to the output of the dynamic server page meta-engine.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a visual image into a tactile image. The apparatus comprises imaging means for converting incident light from the visual image into electrical signals that are proportional to the gray scale intensity of the incident light. The apparatus also comprises a tactile display device having a two-dimensional array of variable height pixels, wherein the height of each pixel in the tactile display is dynamically variable in proportion to the electrical signals from the imaging means. Preferably, the height of each pixel is inversely proportional to the gray scale intensity of the incident light so that the maximum height of a pixel occurs when a corresponding pixel in the visual image is black.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a data processing system for searching for documents. A first thread is initiated, wherein the first thread provides an interface with a user to manipulate the results returned by the second thread. A search request is received. A second thread is initiated, wherein the second thread performs a search using the search request and stored in the results in a data structure and wherein the first thread and the second thread are executed in parallel in the data processing system.

Abstract: A method for processing digital audio data is presented. A control signal for a CD-changer unit is received and interpreted by a digital audio unit that stores digital audio data/files and that determines a CD-changer unit operation that would be performed by the CD-changer unit in response to the CD-changer unit receiving the control signal. The digital audio unit then emulates the CD-changer unit operation. The CD-changer unit to be emulated by the digital audio unit can be selected. The digital audio data stored by the digital audio unit can be organized as virtual CD-ROMs. By emulating the operations of multiple types of CD-changer units, a single digital audio unit can be inserted in many different digital audio systems, thereby extending the functionality of a digital audio system to include storage of softcopy digital audio files that may be accessed through controls and commands for a CD-changer unit.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of splitting bandwidth among a plurality of network transactions. First, a communication requesting a priority for a network transaction is displayed. Second, an input indicating the priority of the bandwidth is received.

Abstract: An interactive alarm clock and method are provided. Specifically, the alarm clock of the present invention is programmable by a user so that distinct alarm signals can be designated. In a typical embodiment, distinct alarm signals are designated based upon volume level, alarm type and/or alarm signal harmonics. For example, a first alarm signal could be produced at a first designated volume level. If the first alarm signal is snoozed, a second alarm signal would later be produced at a second (e.g., higher) designated volume level.

Abstract: In one aspect and form of the invention, a converter receives first visual information from a computer system. The first visual information is conventionally used for generating an image for a first display element. The converter receives first selection data from the computer system identifying at least a first portion of the image, and generates second visual information for generating a second image for a second display element. The second image corresponds to the first portion of the first image. The size of the second image relative to the second display element is controllable by a user and may be selected to be different than the size of the selected portion of the first image relative to the entire first image or relative to the first display element. For example, the second image may be of a size corresponding to the size of substantially the entire second display element.

Abstract: A method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for automatically processing a facsimile document at a receiving device is presented. The receiving device stores a set of facsimile processing rules for automatically processing facsimile documents. The receiving device receives and stores a facsimile document and associated caller ID data from an originating device during a facsimile transmission. The receiving device then compares an originating phone number in the caller ID data against phone numbers in the set of facsimile processing rules. Each facsimile processing rule comprises one or more phone numbers and facsimile processing rule parameter data. In response to matching the originating phone number with a phone number in a facsimile processing rule, a modified facsimile document is then generated such that the modified facsimile document includes information associated with facsimile processing rule parameter data in the matching facsimile processing rule.

Abstract: A move/copy interface is provided with a pause feature that allows the user to pause and subsequently resume a move or copy command. In one embodiment, the pause, tool saves an index, source file name, target file name, block size and block number so that the operation can be subsequently resumed. After a pause has been requested, a “resume” command button appears on the, user interface that is selected by the user to resume processing. Extended periods between a pause and subsequent resume are provided by saving the pause data to a data file. Another embodiment pauses a copy operation over a computer network, such as the Internet, suspending the source computer's sending of blocks of data comprising the source file until the resume operation is requested. The user can repeatedly pause and resume the copy operation in order to free system resources in order to perform other operations.

Abstract: A method, program, and system for receiving personal identification information by means of a telecommunication device are provided. The invention comprises sending a communication transmission, and concurrent with receiving the communication transmission, sending a second transmission, wherein the second transmission contains personal identification information about the party sending the communication transmission. This personal identification information is independent of the identity of the device used to send the communication transmission and may include such information as name, telephone number, business name, address, email, and fax.

Abstract: A method, program and system for entering messages into a database are provided. The method comprises accessing the database by means of one of a plurality of allowable communication devices, which may include phone, mobile phone, PDA, pager and computer. The user then enters a voice or text message into a designated account in the database. The message is stored in a uniform format, which is specified for the account. This uniform format is independent of the communication device used to access the database. When messages are retrieved from the database, the messages are converted from the uniform format into a format which is compatible with the device used to access the database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for using a localized voice mail system that allows voice mail messages on a cellular telephone network to be stored on a remote server or other computer. These messages can be stored on a server of the cellular network or of the cellular telephone service subscriber. The method further entails downloading copies of the stored messages into another computer or a cellular telephone's memory. In this embodiment, a cellular telephone can retrieve voice mail messages even when the cellular telephone is roaming or cannot pick up a carrier signal. In another embodiment, a method is described for organizing voice mail messages stored in a cellular telephone's memory into convenient groups, directories or folders formatted to be compatible with the computer and cellular telephone.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting a visual image into a tactile image. The apparatus comprises imaging means for converting incident light from the visual image into electrical signals that are proportional to the gray scale intensity of the incident light. The apparatus also comprises a tactile display device having a two-dimensional array of variable height pixels, wherein the height of each pixel in the tactile display is dynamically variable in proportion to the electrical signals from the imaging means. Preferably, the height of each pixel is inversely proportional to the gray scale intensity of the incident light so that the maximum height of a pixel occurs when a corresponding pixel in the visual image is black.

Abstract: Tracking and displaying of allocated messages in dynamic workload balancing systems in message driven transaction environments which involve distributing data processing transactions into messages and dynamically allocating each of the messages to different computer systems for performance. A user is enabled to request the performance of a data processing transaction, dynamically transforming, via a server computer any requested transactions into messages free of user input and then allocating the messages to different computer systems. The system has user interactive displays for displaying the allocated messages and associated computer systems when required by the user so that the user may track the messages.

Abstract: An intelligent telephone notification system and method are disclosed wherein the notification means is programmable to be responsive to ambient conditions. For instance, the ringer tone and volume may be selected from a menu related to anticipated ambient conditions. Thus, the ringer volume may be set to automatically adjust in volume according to the ambient noise level. In one embodiment, the ringer volume may be set to be a selected number of decibels above the ambient noise. The ambient conditions such as ambient noise may preferably be sampled using the built-in telephone microphone and connections thereto to avoid the cost of additional sensors and sensor interfacing. The ambient conditions may be sampled in response to an incoming message such as an incoming telephone call or the ambient conditions may be sampled at regular intervals.