Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.

Abstract: A computerized learning method is provided. The method may include receiving a write request from a first learning application program to write a learning level for a skill in a user profile. The user profile is configured to store data indicative of a plurality of skills and a learning level for each skill. The skills and learning levels are defined according to a profile schema. The method may further include writing the learning level for the skill in the user profile. The method may also include receiving a read request from a second learning application program to read the learning level for the skill in the user profile. The method may finally include retrieving the learning level from the user profile, and sending the learning level to the second learning application program.

Abstract: A computerized learning system is provided. The computerized learning system may include a learning application program executable on a computing device. The learning application program may have a user interface configured to present a challenge to a user and receive a user response to the challenge. The user interface may feature a support system configured to present support to aid the user in responding to the challenge. To adjust the support provided to the skill level of the user, a scaffolding engine may be provided to determine a scaffolding level of the user for a skill, and the support system may be configured to adjust the support in response to the scaffolding level. In this manner, support for the user may be more appropriately tailored to the user's ability and change dynamically in accordance with the user's progress.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for annotating an electronic document independently of its content is provided. According to one variation, a tablet and stylus-based computer is programmed with a document browser that permits a user to annotate documents viewed through the browser. The annotations are stored separately from the viewed document pages but are correlated with the pages such that when a previously annotated page is revisited, annotations relating to that page are retrieved and displayed on top of the page as an “ink” layer. Three different annotation modes are possible: ink, highlight, and erase. Each mode can be selected through a user interface supplied through the browser or through controls embedded in a document.

Abstract: A system and method in a wireless network for discovering which resources (e.g., other wireless computing devices) are proximate a user's wireless computing device. Wireless signal strengths with respect to various base stations are compared with the signal strengths of other network devices or resources, to determine which devices are experiencing similar signal strengths. Devices with similar signal strengths are deemed proximate. Each participating computing device may send its signal strength reports to a proximity server, which distributes proximity data to network clients. Each client may receive and process the signal strength data for determining which other clients/resources are proximate, or the server can perform proximity computations and return a list of proximate clients. Once computed, the identities of the proximate clients can be used to query for additional data about the clients, such as the names and other details of their owners, or information about the resource.

Abstract: A system for matching users of learning application programs is provided. As one example, a learning service program can assess the performance of a user based on their interaction with at least one learning application program. Where the user requests an interactive session with other users for a particular learning application program, a learning service program can perform matching of the plurality of users according to the users' assessed abilities in the learning activities involved to achieve multi-user interaction that promotes learning by each of the users.

Abstract: While viewing an electronically displayed document, a user creates a bookmark by selecting a desired part of a document to be marked. In response, a visual indicator is displayed and a bookmark object is created preferably separate from the document. The bookmark object comprises information linking the bookmark object to the desired part of the document as well as user-modifiable properties. If another part of the document is subsequently displayed, at least a portion of the visual indicator is still displayed. Later selection of the portion of the visual indicator causes the desired portion of the document to be re-displayed. Because the object is separate from the document, it may be viewed and sorted by its properties apart from its display with the document. A placemark is created whenever the display of a current document is discontinued. In response to a discontinuation signal, a placemark object comprising information linking the placemark object to a last-viewed part of the document is created.

Abstract: A networked computing environment in which a computing device is configured according to configuration information associated with a detected communication network is presented. As a computer detects a change in the network to which it is connected, the computer obtains configuration information associated with the newly detected network. According to the configuration information, the computer is configured such that some computer functions are presented and/or made available and accessible, while other computer functions are hidden and/or made unavailable and inaccessible.

Abstract: A user interface architecture wherein user content and user interface are composed of documents with links is described. User content documents and user interface documents are both displayed in a single viewing frame. A non-linear navigation history is maintained such that a user can navigate along a first path, back up using a previous link, navigate along a second path, back up along the second path using the previous link, and re-navigate along the first path again using a next link. Every document page to which a user navigates is saved in the user's navigation history. Users can query their navigation histories and view their navigation histories in various ways. Users can access, annotate, and customize the user interface in the same manner in which users access, annotate, and modify user content documents.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for simultaneously displaying multiple-contexts in a page-oriented viewing architecture utilize the concept of page pinning in which a portion of a first document context is displayed as a fixed frame overlayed on or placed beside the display of a second document context. A user may navigate within the second document context while viewing the portion of the first document context as a pinned page on the display. Thus, a single navigational focus is maintained even though multiple contexts are displayed in the page-oriented architecture. Page pinning may be used to view two non-contiguous locations in a single electronic document or to view two pages of respective different electronic documents. A pinned page can be used to hold a particular context while a command set is executed from a command document viewed as the second context.

Abstract: A user interface architecture wherein user content and user interface are composed of documents with links is described. Links have properties that indicate how links should be displayed. Link display may depend upon characteristics of the linked-to frame. Commands are implemented as links that link to command code. The display format of a document page depends upon the path a user navigated in order to get to the displayed page. User content documents and user interface documents are both displayed in a single viewing frame. A non-linear navigation history is maintained such that a user can navigate along a first path, back up using a previous link, navigate along a second path, back up along the second path using the previous link, and re-navigate along the first path again using a next link. Every document page to which a user navigates is saved in the user's navigation history.

Abstract: A computerized learning system is provided. The computerized learning system may include a learning application program executable on a computing device. The learning application program may have a user interface configured to present a challenge to a user and receive a user response to the challenge. The user interface may feature a support system configured to present support to aid the user in responding to the challenge. To adjust the support provided to the skill level of the user, a scaffolding engine may be provided to determine a scaffolding level of the user for a skill, and the support system may be configured to adjust the support in response to the scaffolding level. In this manner, support for the user may be more appropriately tailored to the user's ability and change dynamically in accordance with the user's progress.

Abstract: A system for matching users of learning application programs is provided. As one example, a learning service program can assess the performance of a user based on their interaction with at least one learning application program. Where the user requests an interactive session with other users for a particular learning application program, a learning service program can perform matching of the plurality of users according to the users' assessed abilities in the learning activities involved to achieve multi-user interaction that promotes learning by each of the users.

Abstract: A computerized learning method is provided. The method may include receiving performance data for a user from at least one of a plurality of learning application programs, at a learning service program. The method may also include updating a learning level of the user based on the performance data from at least one of the plurality of learning applications, and determining a recommendation for the user based on the updated learning level. The recommendation may be displayed on a graphical user interface of the learning service program. The determination of the recommendation may be based on a measured change in a learning level for a group of users with at least one profile element similar to the user. In this manner, effective recommendations for the user may be made.

Abstract: A computerized learning method is provided. The method may include receiving learning data for a user from each of a plurality of learning application programs, at a learning service program, storing the learning data in a profile of the user, in non-volatile memory accessible to the learning service program, and displaying a parent graphical user interface configured to include a parent view of learning data associated with the profile. An assessed user learning level and other learning data for a skill from the profile of the user may be displayed on the parent graphical user interface. Recommendations and statistical comparisons of the user with other users may also be displayed on the parent graphical user interface. In this manner, a parent may efficiently monitor a student user's learning activity.

Abstract: A computerized learning method is provided. The method may include, at a learning service program, receiving learning data from each of a plurality of learning application programs for each of a plurality of students. The method may further include receiving a request from an administrator client device for learning data to display in an administrator graphical user interface. The request may be received via an application programming interface or online service. The method may further include communicating to the requesting administrator client device selected learning data for display in the administrator graphical user interface.

Abstract: A computerized learning method is provided. The method typically includes, receiving user performance data from each of a plurality of learning application programs, at a learning service program, and determining an assessed user learning level based on the user performance data. The method may further include awarding a trophy to the user upon determining that the assessed user learning level meets or exceeds a predetermined learning level threshold.

Abstract: A computerized learning system and method is provided. According to the method, user performance data for a unique user may be received from learning application programs executed on a user client device. The received user performance data may be used to determine an assessed user learning level for the user. The assessed user learning level may be stored in a learner profile for the user and may be sent to a learning application program upon request.