Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Abstract: Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Abstract: A stored transcript of a first conversation thread has beginning and ending points with a series of messages in between. A continuation point is inserted between two messages within the first thread, and an storaae indicator is displayed proximate to an entry for the first thread in a hierarchical list of stored conversations; When the indicator is operated, the transcript is retrieved, a portion of the first thread is copied in into a second user interface, the copied oortion being defined by two points selected from a the beginning point, the continuation point, and the ending point. Newly authored and received messages are aooended in the second user interface to the copied portion of the first thread, such that a second thread of conversation is provided having the copied portion of the first thread with the copied portion refreshing the user of a context of said first conversation thread.

Abstract: A method, program and system for displaying the consequence of an input in a graphical user interface (GUI) are provided. The invention comprises displaying a GUI including a plurality of interaction control mechanisms (controls) having a selected or a deselected state. An input to a first control may cause a change in state to at least one other of the plurality of controls. Responsive to a first input at the first control (e.g., holding down a mouse button with the pointer on the first control), the invention displays a preview of the change in state of the plurality of controls that would occur if a second input is made at the first control (e.g., releasing the mouse button with the pointer still on the first control). If the user does not want the previewed change in state to occur, the user has simply to avoid making the second input (e.g., move the pointer off the first control before releasing the mouse button).

Abstract: A method, program and system for displaying the consequence of an input in a graphical user interface (GUI) are provided. The invention comprises displaying a GUI including a plurality of interaction control mechanisms (controls) having a selected or a deselected state. An input to a first control may cause a change in state to at least one other of the plurality of controls. Responsive to a first input at the first control (e.g., holding down a mouse button with the pointer on the first control), the invention displays a preview of the change in state of the plurality of controls that would occur if a second input is made at the first control (e.g., releasing the mouse button with the pointer still on the first control). If the user does not want the previewed change in state to occur, the user has simply to avoid making the second input (e.g., move the pointer off the first control before releasing the mouse button).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for visually indicating whether a hyper-link located in a web page is linked within the current page, other pages within the same site, pages external to the current site, links that open a new browser, links that alter the content of the browser, or lines that have slow connection rates. The visual indication is either indicated by the hyper-link itself and/or a corresponding visual indicator.

Abstract: A system for communication with addressable electronically-controllable appliances using a generalized pointing device is provided. The system includes a pointing device that can communicate with dissimilar types of target appliances from a position remote from those appliances and an appliance interface that makes the target appliances compatible with the pointing device. Use of the system is believed to allow the convenience associated with use of a computer's graphical user interface (GUI) to be realized in communication with physical objects, i.e. the target appliances. In an embodiment for one-way communication from a pointing device to a target appliance, the pointing device may comprise an actuator, an input-output interface, and a transmitter. In an embodiment configured for two-way communication between the pointing device and an appliance, the pointing device may further include a receiver.

Abstract: A system and method for progressive levels of user assistance information is presented. A user positions a selector icon over an object which invokes processing to seamlessly display a top level help window corresponding the object. The top level help window includes a title of the corresponding object. The user selects the top level help window to invoke processing to seamlessly display an intermediate level help window. The intermediate level help window includes a description of the corresponding object as well as detail level graphical controls. The user selects one of the detail level graphical controls to invoke processing to seamlessly display a detail level help window. The detail level help window may include instructions regarding the use of the corresponding icon's function or the detail level help window may include text regarding why a user uses the particular icon's function.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are provided for a virtual three-dimensional workspace wherein certain three-dimensional objects represent or serve as proxies for a variety of user interactive application programs. Such objects may be selected or triggered by the user to bring forth planar two-dimensional interactive user interfaces having images resembling those of their respective representative 3D objects so that a user may intuitively note the resemblance and select the appropriate object to result in the planar two-dimensional interactive interface appearing in front of the three-dimensional workspace. This two-dimensional planar interface remains active and unaffected by changes to its representative three-dimensional object during the course of navigation or otherwise.

Abstract: A method, program and system for displaying the consequence of an input in a graphical user interface (GUI) are provided. The invention comprises displaying a GUI including a plurality of interaction control mechanisms (controls) having a selected or a deselected state. An input to a first control may cause a change in state to at least one other of the plurality of controls. Responsive to a first input at the first control (e.g., holding down a mouse button with the pointer on the first control), the invention displays a preview of the change in state of the plurality of controls that would occur if a second input is made at the first control (e.g., releasing the mouse button with the pointer still on the first control). If the user does not want the previewed change in state to occur, the user has simply to avoid making the second input (e.g., move the pointer off the first control before releasing the mouse button).

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are provided for an interactive data processor controlled display interface wherein the user may dynamically select a plurality of objects (tools) and combine these tools into a combination tool which simultaneously performs the combined interactive functions of the individual tools. The invention is particularly effective when the combined functions being performed are graphic in nature and the results of the combination are shown on the display.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for pruning search engine indices. A notification is received from a client browser that a Web page retrieval error occurred for a Web page or that the Web page no longer contains selected keywords. In response to receiving the notification, the Web page is automatically deleted from the search engine indices. This automatic deletion may occur upon receiving the notice from the browser or after receiving some threshold number of notifications from browsers.

Abstract: A method for communication with addressable, electronically-controllable appliances using a generalized pointing device is presented. The pointing device can communicate with dissimilar types of target appliance, and each appliance is associated with an appliance interface that makes the target appliance compatible with the pointing device. Use of the method is believed to allow the convenience associated with the use of a computer's graphical user interface to be realized in communication with physical objects, i.e. the target appliances. The method includes orienting the pointing device for reception of its pointer command signals by an appliance interface of the targeted appliance, transmitting a selection signal from the pointing device to the appliance interface, and transmitting a pointer command signal to the appliance interface.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are provided for a virtual three-dimensional workspace wherein a two-dimensional workplane has been created in which two-dimensional images of said three-dimensional objects are carried so that when the viewer or user navigates within the three-dimensional workspace to points in the workspace where certain three-dimensional objects are no longer visible or available in the workspace, the viewer or user may still interactively perform functions relative to the no longer visible three-dimensional objects through interaction with the respective two-dimensional images of the three-dimensional objects which are still available in the workplane which is unaffected by the navigation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for moving one or more objects from and returning them to a user visible portion of a work plane, which includes but is larger than the visible portion, by interpreting a single user input action and in response thereto changing the position of the objects. Objects remain in the work plane in either the user visible or non-user visible portions. In one embodiment, a smaller than actual representation of the entire work plane is displayed with that portion of the work plane currently in focus by the user.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program are provided for viewer navigation within a virtual reality three-dimensional workspace containing functional three-dimensional objects which are capable of being moved and environmental three-dimensional objects which have stationary positions in the workspace. Navigation from an initial viewpoint interface in the virtual reality workspace to a subsequent viewpoint is carried out by the viewer selecting an environmental object whereupon the system responds by shifting the viewpoint to a subsequent position in the workspace.

Abstract: A method, system and program for navigating within any compound graphical object in a graphical user interface presented on a display. The compound graphical object has an arbitrary number of hierarchically ranked levels. First, the system determines whether a command to move within the compound object was issued from a pointing device or from a keyboard device. If issued from a pointing device, a lowest level object in the compound object is found which encompasses a hot-spot of a pointer icon controlled by the pointing device. The level to which the lowest level object belongs is made active. If the selection command was issued from a keyboard device, a next object in the compound object is selected, the next object being established by the keyboard user command and other information such as the relative hierarchical and spatial positions of the current and next objects.

Abstract: A physical play-in-place case for housing and playing a media disc, such as an audio compact disc (CD). The case comprises a base, a shell attached to the base defining a cavity for receiving a CD, the shell further having a landing portion defining a spine area extending substantially along a common side of the base and the shell, and a cover hinged to the base along the spine area. Playback controls are located at the landing portion of the shell and extend into the spine area. At least one audio output device is located in the shell. A track/time display can also be located at the landing portion of the shell. In a further embodiment, a graphic display panel is attached to the cover, and may be viewed when the cover is in the closed position. A touch screen may be operatively combined with the graphic display panel. The case can be fabricated in the same size as conventional CD jewel cases, i.e., with dimensions no greater than about 14 cm×12.5 cm×10 cm.