Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of an entity to a user are provided. The techniques include obtaining a portion of the presence information of the entity from servers associated with the communications networks, and assembling an image in accordance with the at least one portion of the presence information of the entity, wherein at least a portion of the image represents a highest ranked communication option of a plurality of communication options for contacting the entity based on a rule set that evaluates the presence information of the entity, in its entirety, in accordance with at least one item of communication-related information, the image conveying presence information of the entity for at least the highest ranked communication option, and in accordance with communication parameters associated with the entity and the user, communication preferences of at least one of the entity and the user, and communication capabilities of the user.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of one or more entities, wherein the one or more entities are participants in a scheduled activity, are provided. A status of the scheduled activity is obtained from a first entity via an application loaded on a device of the first entity. The presence information of the first entity and/or a second entity is updated in accordance with the status of the scheduled activity. The updated presence information of the first entity and/or the second entity is published.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of an entity to a user are provided. The techniques include obtaining a portion of the presence information of the entity from servers associated with the communications networks, and assembling an image in accordance with the at least one portion of the presence information of the entity, wherein at least a portion of the image represents a highest ranked communication option of a plurality of communication options for contacting the entity based on a rule set that evaluates the presence information of the entity, in its entirety, in accordance with at least one item of communication-related information, the image conveying presence information of the entity for at least the highest ranked communication option, and in accordance with communication parameters associated with the entity and the user, communication preferences of at least one of the entity and the user, and communication capabilities of the user.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of an entity to a user, wherein the entity is known to the user via one or more communications networks, are provided. At least one portion of the presence information of the entity is obtained from one or more servers associated with the one or more communications networks. An image is generated in accordance with the at least one portion of the presence information of the entity. The image summarizes the presence information of the entity. Further, the image assists the user in the selection of a communication option when contacting the entity from a plurality of communication options of the entity.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of one or more entities, wherein the one or more entities are participants in a scheduled activity, are provided. A status of the scheduled activity is obtained from a first entity via an application loaded on a device of the first entity. The presence information of the first entity and/or a second entity is updated in accordance with the status of the scheduled activity. The updated presence information of the first entity and/or the second entity is published.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of one or more entities, wherein the one or more entities are participants in a scheduled activity, are provided. A status of the scheduled activity is obtained from a first entity via an application loaded on a device of the first entity. The presence information of the first entity and/or a second entity is updated in accordance with the status of the scheduled activity. The updated presence information of the first entity and/or the second entity is published.

Abstract: A method and system for providing content-based access to presence information for an entity are described. The method, which may be implemented in a server, includes maintaining a plurality of state definitions for entities, each state definition including an expression of conditions to be met in data of presence information for an entity. The method further includes receiving presence information for an entity, evaluating in a computer-based application, the presence information for the entity with respect to the state definitions to determine if a state definition evaluates to true against the presence information, and providing results of a state definition. The results may be provided as a subscription to a state definition or in reply to a query request for a state definition.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of one or more entities, wherein the one or more entities are participants in a scheduled activity, are provided. A status of the scheduled activity is obtained from a first entity via an application loaded on a device of the first entity. The presence information of the first entity and/or a second entity is updated in accordance with the status of the scheduled activity. The updated presence information of the first entity and/or the second entity is published.

Abstract: A method for exchanging short range information, the method includes: receiving, by a first device and over a short range communication channel, a strength indication signal that is transmitted from a second device; wherein the strength indication signal is representative of a strength of a signal that was transmitted by the third device and was received by the second device; estimating locations of the second device and the third device in response to a content of the strength indication signal and in response to a strength of a signal that is received by the first device and was transmitted by the second device; and providing to a user of the first device location information representative of the locations of the second device and of the third device.

Abstract: Techniques for relaying presence information of an entity to a user, wherein the entity is known to the user via one or more communications networks, are provided. At least one portion of the presence information of the entity is obtained from one or more servers associated with the one or more communications networks. An image is generated in accordance with the at least one portion of the presence information of the entity. The image summarizes the presence information of the entity. Further, the image assists the user in the selection of a communication option when contacting the entity from a plurality of communication options of the entity.

Abstract: A method and system of streaming a page of data are described. In one embodiment, an object corresponding to the page of data is allocated. The object is executed. If the object is a proxy, then the proxy is executed. If the object is a component, then the component is executed. If the object is a container, then the container is executed.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for managing, tracking and controlling page sub-component prerequisites in a graphical user interface (GUI). According to one embodiment, in response to a request for a destination page and with reference to prerequisite information, one or more sub-component prerequisites associated with the destination page are identified. Then, a determination is made whether one or more requirements associated with the identified sub-component prerequisite have been satisfied by invoking a method of an instance of the identified sub-component prerequisite that causes stored information to be retrieved regarding the state of the sub-component prerequisite from a current environment/context.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for accessing and retrieving attribute name value pairs from properties data stores, such as properties files. According to one embodiment, attribute values may be associated with properties data store objects. First, an attempt is made to determine a value of an attribute of an object by formulating and submitting a first query against the properties data store based upon a combination of a current context identifier, an object identifier associated with the object, and an attribute identifier associated with the attribute. If the first query is unsuccessful at locating the value, then the value is determined by formulating and submitting a second query against the properties data store based upon a combination of the object identifier and the attribute identifier.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for managing, tracking and controlling page prerequisites in a graphical user interface (GUI). According to one embodiment, in response to a request to display a destination page of the GUI and with reference to prerequisite information, one or more prerequisite pages associated with the destination page are identified. Then, a determination is made whether the requirements of an identified prerequisite page have been satisfied by invoking a method of an instance of a decider sub-component that causes stored information regarding the state of the identified prerequisite page to be retrieved from a current environment/context. Finally, the destination page is displayed if all the requirements of the one or more identified prerequisite pages have been satisfied, otherwise a prerequisite page having one or more requirements that remain unsatisfied is displayed.

Abstract: Method and system for operating a computer system to execute a selected predicted operation which a user has not yet requested is described. The results of the predicted operation are stored with an uncommitted (temporary) status until the user actually requests the results of the predicted operation at which time the the status of the results are changed to a committed (permanent) status so that the results become usable by the user as though generated after the user requests the predicted operation. User activity which invalidates or renders the results of the predicted operation useless is tracked, so that the results will be discarded when appropriate. The selection of the predicted operation is made based on the particular activity being performed by the user at the time. A table of predicted operations may be used which prioritizes the predicted operations.

Abstract: A “Selective Undo Function” for computer programs allows a user to select any single specific action that was previously recorded by the computer, and undo only that selected action, rather than every action that chronologically follows the specific action. Specifically, the computer program may undo just the selected action, even if the selected action is not the last action taken by the user, if that is possible; or the computer program may perform some analysis and undo other actions that are deemed prerequisites to undoing the selected action, upon user confirmation; or if the analysis performed by the computer program cannot determine what these prerequisites are or cannot perform the undo function, then the computer program may take a default action, e.g., undo the selected action as well as all actions that follow the selected action, in chronological order.

Abstract: A “Selective Undo Function” for computer programs allows a user to select any single specific action that was previously recorded by the computer, and undo only that selected action, rather than every action that chronologically follows the specific action. Specifically, the computer program may undo just the selected action, even if the selected action is not the last action taken by the user, if that is possible; or the computer program may perform some analysis and undo other actions that are deemed prerequisites to undoing the selected action, upon user confirmation; or if the analysis performed by the computer program cannot determine what these prerequisites are or cannot perform the undo function, then the computer program may take a default action, e.g., undo the selected action as well as all actions that follow the selected action, in chronological order.

Abstract: A computer program product comprising at least one controller to enable a processor to perform incremental changes in storage and retrieval. The at least one controller comprises an incremental storage adaptor for enabling the processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by the change and storing the result as a new file. An incremental retrieval adaptor is included for enabling the processor to merge the change with the base file thereby forming a logical new file. The incremental retrieval adaptor can perform the merging in response to a call from an application running on the processor or another processor, and the incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes the logical new file available to the application.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for displaying objects in an object-oriented system. A first view is graphically displayed on a monitor attached to a computer, wherein the first view displays one or more objects therein. A second view is also graphically displayed on the monitor attached to the computer, wherein a specified relationship is defined from the first view to the second view. When an action is performed in the first view it causes a modification to the second view in accordance with the specified relationship.

Abstract: A computer program product comprising at least one controller to enable a processor to perform incremental changes in storage and retrieval. The at least one controller comprises an incremental storage adaptor for enabling the processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by the change and storing the result as a new file. An incremental retrieval adaptor is included for enabling the processor to merge the change with the base file thereby forming a logical new file. The incremental retrieval adaptor can perform the merging in response to a call from an application running on the processor or another processor, and the incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes the logical new file available to the application.