Abstract: Screenshots on a computer display are automatically captured to assist in building a tutorial to demonstrate the functionality of one or more applications. In one possible approach, an event detector, such as an accessibility toolkit, detects when events are generated by the one or more applications. The events may include, e.g., button clicks, windows opening or closing, drag and drop events, check boxes being checked, menus being pulled down or menu items selected, and so forth. Or, a program may monitor pixel changes on the screen to detect when changes occur in the images generated by the one or more applications. A tutorial builder application automatically captures an image when the event or image change is detected, edits the captured image such as by providing a focus on the changed portion, and provides the edited image in a tutorial window. Related text can also be automatically generated.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time criteria. In addition, the search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Abstract: A method and computer system including launching a dialog window for two users to communicate with one another via respective client devices relating to a particular subject. A search query is received from an additional user including a keyword associated with the particular subject. In response to the request, a backlog of a recent discussion between the two users relating to the particular subject is retrieved and provided to the additional user, wherein the backlog includes a suggested link relating to the recent discussion.

Abstract: A processor executing a password manager randomly selects a first requirement and a second requirement for creating a password from a set of requirements, wherein the second requirement is selected independently of the first requirement. The processor provides the first requirement for creating the password, receives characters for the password, determines whether the characters satisfy the first requirement, and provides information that indicates whether the characters satisfy the first requirement. Responsive to the characters satisfying the first requirement, the processor provides the second requirement for creating the password.

Abstract: A method and program for preventing an interrupting action in a computer resource for a full-screen mode or presentation mode of a user application are disclosed. Such a method includes: detecting, for example by a window manager, that a user application is entering into full-screen mode in a display space of the computer resource; transmitting to a target module, for example via a message bus, a mode message indicating that the full-screen mode is being entered; and preventing the interrupting action by the target module. The interrupting action may be a display action in a display space associated with the computer resource. The target module may be an instant messaging application, a screen saver application, a calendar application, a power management application, or a voice communication application.

Abstract: A processor executing a password manager randomly selects a first requirement and a second requirement for creating a password from a set of requirements, wherein the second requirement is selected independently of the first requirement. The processor provides the first requirement for creating the password, receives characters for the password, determines whether the characters satisfy the first requirement, and provides information that indicates whether the characters satisfy the first requirement. Responsive to the characters satisfying the first requirement, the processor provides the second requirement for creating the password.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to assist users with the entry of strong passwords. The password may be considered strong if it satisfies one or more requirements. A set of these requirements may be selected and then presented to the user. The requirements may be randomly selected one by one or as a group. The requirements may also be presented to the user one by one in a random order or in the form of a list with a random order. As characters for the password are entered, the user may then be notified when one or more the requirements have been satisfied.

Abstract: A method and computer system including launching a dialogue window for two users to communicate with one another via respective client devices relating to a particular subject. A search query is received from an additional user including a keyword associated with the particular subject. In response to the request, a backlog of a recent discussion between the two users relating to the particular subject is retrieved and provided to the additional user, wherein the backlog includes a suggested link relating to the recent discussion.

Abstract: Users searching for common subject matter on a computer network are identified and enabled to communicate with one another, such as by engaging in an on-line chat. The users' search queries are transmitted to a server and processed to identify which users are searching for common subject matter within a time window. A dialogue such as an on-line chat is launched and the identified users are invited to join. The users may preview the chat before joining. The users can share links to resources such as web pages and provide annotations to accompany the links. Additionally, the users' search queries may be shared in the chat. The functionality may be provided by a plug-in to web browser software, or by an executable script embedded in a web page of search results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and system for “borrowing” and giving back a window from one computer to another. Borrowing refers to actions performed by one computer to temporarily obtain and control a window from another computer.

Abstract: Dynamic tutorial generation for user help and user guidance in generating a property of an exemplar object is provided. The user identifies the exemplar object, the object or one of its properties is analyzed, user operations for producing the property of the object are determined, and the determined user operations are presented. Path finding logic may be used to identify a sequence of states using transform operations to reach a goal state with the desired property of the object. Transformation operations may be applied and the resulting states may each be compared to the goal state using a heuristic that yields a similarity metric between each of the resulting states and the goal state.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a desktop search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time context In addition, the desktop search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a desktop search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time context. In addition, the desktop search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and system for “borrowing” and giving back a window from one computer to another. Borrowing refers to actions performed by one computer to temporarily obtain and control a window from another computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a desktop search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time context. In addition, the desktop search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Abstract: Dynamic tutorial generation for user help and user guidance in generating a property of an exemplar object is provided. The user identifies the exemplar object, the object or one of its properties is analyzed, user operations for producing the property of the object are determined, and the determined user operations are presented. Path finding logic may be used to identify a sequence of states using transform operations to reach a goal state with the desired property of the object. Transformation operations may be applied and the resulting states may each be compared to the goal state using a heuristic that yields a similarity metric between each of the resulting states and the goal state.

Abstract: A method and program for preventing an interrupting action in a computer resource for a full-screen mode or presentation mode of a user application are disclosed. Such a method includes: detecting, for example by a window manager, that a user application is entering into full-screen mode in a display space of the computer resource; transmitting to a target module, for example via a message bus, a mode message indicating that the full-screen mode is being entered; and preventing the interrupting action by the target module. The interrupting action may be a display action in a display space associated with the computer resource. The target module may be an instant messaging application, a screen saver application, a calendar application, a power management application, or a voice communication application.

Abstract: Screenshots on a computer display are automatically captured to assist in building a tutorial to demonstrate the functionality of one or more applications. In one possible approach, an event detector, such as an accessibility toolkit, detects when events are generated by the one or more applications. The events may include, e.g., button clicks, windows opening or closing, drag and drop events, check boxes being checked, menus being pulled down or menu items selected, and so forth. Or, a program may monitor pixel changes on the screen to detect when changes occur in the images generated by the one or more applications. A tutorial builder application automatically captures an image when the event or image change is detected, edits the captured image such as by providing a focus on the changed portion, and provides the edited image in a tutorial window. Related text can also be automatically generated.

Abstract: Users searching for common subject matter on a computer network are identified and enabled to communicate with one another, such as by engaging in an on-line chat. The users' search queries are transmitted to a server and processed to identify which users are searching for common subject matter within a time window. A dialogue such as an on-line chat is launched and the identified users are invited to join. The users may preview the chat before joining. The users can share links to resources such as web pages and provide annotations to accompany the links. Additionally, the users' search queries may be shared in the chat. The functionality may be provided by a plug-in to web browser software, or by an executable script embedded in a web page of search results.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to assist users with the entry of strong passwords. The password may be considered strong if it satisfies one or more requirements. A set of these requirements may be selected and then presented to the user. The requirements may be randomly selected one by one or as a group. The requirements may also be presented to the user one by one in a random order or in the form of a list with a random order. As characters for the password are entered, the user may then be notified when one or more the requirements have been satisfied.