Abstract: A method for electronic mail (email) distribution and collaboration, the method includes: composing an email message; designating one or more recipients for the email message; assigning a status to each of the one or more recipients; specifying an order of delivery of the email message to the one or more recipients; specifying a required response time period to the email message by the one or more recipients; and specifying a priority order of responses to the email message by the one or more recipients.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computing system for providing a graphical user interface via an operating system. The graphical user interface may be configured to permit a user to define a plurality of modes, one of the modes being a current mode. The method may also include permitting a user to select an updated mode of the plurality of modes, the updated mode being different from the current mode. The computer-implemented method may further include transmitting a message indicating that the updated mode has been selected to a configuration interface associated with at least one application running on the operating system. Numerous other variations and embodiments are also included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of managing data storage according to collaborative activity can include determining collaborative activity for each of a plurality of data items associated with a first user and stored within a first data storage device. The method can include calculating a measure of relevancy for each of the plurality of data items according to the collaborative activity and comparing the measure of relevancy of each of the plurality of data items to at least one relevancy threshold. Different ones of the plurality of data items can be selectively migrated from the first data storage device to a second data storage device according to the comparison of the measure of relevancy of each of the plurality of data items.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for processing a tracking request from a first user of an instant messaging system concerning the online status of a second user of the instant messaging system. The online status of the second user is monitored. A tracking notice is provided to the second user. The tracking notice informs the second user that the first user is monitoring the online status of the second user.

Abstract: A first filter input is received from a first recipient of an email including a plurality of recipients. The first filter input is associated with the email. Further, the first filter input is propagated to at least another of the plurality of recipients of the email.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a social network for locating a target individual based upon a proximity search can be provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of utilizing a social network for locating a target individual based upon proximity search can include identifying a geographic location for a mobile computing device of a target individual, retrieving a list of contacts from a social network associated with the target individual, generating a subset of the contacts according to a proximity of available ones of the contacts to the identified geographic location for the mobile computing device, and prompting at least one of the contacts in the subset to alert the target individual.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for identifying one or more instant messaging contacts associated with a first instant messaging contacts list, and identifying one or more instant messaging contacts associated with a second instant messaging contacts list. The one or more instant messaging contacts associated with the first instant messaging contacts list are compared to the one or more instant messaging contacts associated with the second instant messaging contacts list. One or more comparison instant messaging contacts are determined.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving a scheduling request for a specified time slot. An acceptance of the scheduling request is received. One or more additional time slots associated with the specified time slot are scheduled.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for analyzing a plurality of relationships of a user. A social network of the user is defined based upon, at least in part, at least a portion of the plurality of relationships of the user. The social network identifies one or more relationship users. A relationship score is associated with the one or more relationship users. An instant messaging availability status of the user is indicated to the one or more relationship users based upon, at least in part, the relationship score associated with the one or more relationship users.

Abstract: A method for generating an audio file is provided. The method can include receiving a plurality of data entries, wherein each data entry comprises a text portion and converting the text portion of each data entry into a data audio segment, thereby generating a plurality of data audio segments. The method can further include generating, for each data entry in a subset of the plurality of data entries, an introduction audio segment that describes a data entry, thereby producing a plurality of introduction audio segments. The method can further include concatenating the plurality of data audio segments and the plurality of introduction audio segments into a single audio file, wherein each introduction audio segment is positioned in the audio file directly prior to a data audio segment corresponding to the data entry described by the introduction audio segment.

Abstract: The present invention presents a solution for prioritizing instant messaging (IM) communications based on sender/receiver relationships and for presenting selective notifications based upon the established priorities. The invention can include a data store, a message prioritization engine, and a client-side IM application. The data store can manage information describing relationships among people and recipient configurable IM prioritizing information. The message prioritization engine can determine a priority value for IM communications based upon the relationships and recipient configurable IM prioritizing information of the data store. The client-side IM application can receive IM messages that have an associated priority value established by the message prioritization engine. The client-side application can present an indicator of the priority value for associated IM messages within a user interface.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for reserving scheduling time includes defining a reserve time period in a scheduling system for a user. A reserve user group is defined including one or more reserve users, and the reserve user group is associated with the reserve time period. Scheduling permissions are assigned for the reserve time period based upon, at least in part, the associated reserve user group.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to collaborative computing and provide a method, system and computer program product for deriving and communicating attention spans in a collaborative computing environment. In an embodiment of the invention, an attention span management method can be provided for a collaborative computing environment. The method can include monitoring computer activity for a collaborator to a collaboration, computing an attention span based upon the monitored computing activity, and generating an alert in the collaboration if the attention span crosses a threshold boundary indicating an unacceptable level of distraction for the collaboration.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for establishing a trust relationship between a first user of a collaboration platform and at least a second user of the collaboration platform. Information concerning calendar-related events for the at least a second user is automatically forwarded to the first user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an email warning including analyzing one or more communication activities of a user. A pattern of communication activity may be defined based upon, at least in part, the analyzed one or more communication activities of the user. An attempted communication activity may be compared to the pattern of communication activity. A notification may be provided to the user if the attempted communication activity is inconsistent with the pattern of communication activity.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for managing communications with a user include defining one or more communication profiles for a user, in which defining the one or more communication profiles includes defining one or more communication channels for the user, and defining a preferred communication schedule for each of the one or more communication channels. The preferred communication schedule is associated with a respective one of the one or more communication channels. Communications with the user by a contacting user are managed based upon, at least in part, the one or more communication profiles for the user.

Abstract: A user interface (UI), which reflects exchanges in the past and the future between a user and entities. The UI includes a background having a user defined granularity, a plurality of dots, which each represent at least one collaborative exchange of a user and which are each arranged on the background, a graphic connection between any two or more dots which each represent exchanges between the user and similar entities, a first graphic which includes first level information, and a second graphic which includes second level information. For any set of one or more dots which each represent exchanges between the user and similar entities, the dot closest to or within the central area includes a graphical identifier that indicates whether the entity is currently available for a new exchange.

Abstract: A method and computer program product for receiving an indication of a meeting being scheduled between a plurality of attendees. At least one of the attendees is designated a moderator of the meeting. The actions of the designated moderator are monitored to determine if the designated moderator is capable of performing one or more moderator responsibilities associated with being the designated moderator. If it is determined that the designated moderator is incapable of performing the one or more moderator responsibilities, an alternate moderator chosen from the plurality of attendees is designated.

Abstract: A method for electronic mail (email) distribution and collaboration, the method includes: composing an email message; designating one or more recipients for the email message; assigning a status to each of the one or more recipients; specifying an order of delivery of the email message to the one or more recipients; specifying a required response time period to the email message by the one or more recipients; and specifying a priority order of responses to the email message by the one or more recipients.

Abstract: In a chat alert method and system, a chat user creates alert profiles that include the requestor's level in an organizational hierarchy as a parameter and the alert type for the level. When a chat client receives a chat request from a requester for a receiver, the chat client determines if there is a chat alert profile that matches the requestor's level. If so, then an alert is issued to the receiver according to the matching chat alert profile. Optionally, the chat alert profile sets an alternate alert system, where if the receiver does not respond to the request within a specified time, an alert is sent using the alternate alert system. Chat requests from requesters higher up in the reporting chain can be highlighted for the receiver. The receiver can then prioritize the chat requests that he/she receives and respond to them in a timely fashion.