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: An apparatus and method for presenting electronic documents to users in the form of immersive reading pages. Immersive reading pages mimic the presentation that is provided by printed paper documents. There are no traditional user interface features displayed to the user, yet the user has access to the enhanced functionality that can be provided by computer-implemented documents. In an illustrative embodiment, the user has access to intrabook (or inside-the-book), interbook (or outside-the-book) navigational features, and content interactive features, such as highlighting, annotating, drawing or looking up definitions or synonyms of words in the document. Enhanced functionality is transparently associated with elements on the immersive reading page such that the immersive reading page is without visible indicators of the association. A training mode for permitting the user to learn the transparent association behind the immersive reading pages provides visual guides to the user.

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 computer network in which computer users may make handwritten annotations (to publication pages such as a slideshow slide) public to other computer users, as well as to view public annotations from other computer users. Users can selectively publish authored notes, and subscribe to other user's published notes, as well as see who is subscribing to those notes. An annotation program such as running on a tablet personal computer allows a user to operate in a public mode or a private mode. In the public mode, an author's ink strokes are sent to a server which distributes those ink strokes to subscribers of that author. The architecture provides other useful applications, including a shared canvas mode in which any user annotations corresponding to a publication page are viewable to other users, and a graffiti mode in which annotations are persisted independent of any publication page.

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: 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. The invention contemplates the use of a pinned page 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. 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. Users can query their navigation histories and view their navigation histories in various ways.

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 peer-to-peer wireless instant messaging system is described. A user may establish a wireless instant messaging communication pathway with other users either using a server or directly. In some aspects of the present invention, a user may use an intermediate user's connection to reach another user, who is out of range of the first user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing instructional responses to unstructured user input is presented. In operation, a task is presented to a user. In response to the task, the user inputs unstructured input onto a computing device. In response to the input, a determination is made as to whether an instructional response should be presented to the user. If so, the response is presented to the user. Determining whether a response should be made to the user is made according to the accuracy of the user input in regard to the task. The response may be a visual response, and audio response, or an audio/visual response. The invention may be used in a network configuration that permits a teacher to monitor the progress of individual users/students.

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 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 and method in a computer network in which computer users may make handwritten annotations (to publication pages such as a slideshow slide) public to other computer users, as well as to view public annotations from other computer users. Users can selectively publish authored notes, and subscribe to other user's published notes, as well as see who is subscribing to those notes. An annotation program such as running on a tablet personal computer allows a user to operate in a public mode or a private mode. In the public mode, an author's ink strokes are sent to a server which distributes those ink strokes to subscribers of that author. The architecture provides other useful applications, including a shared canvas mode in which any user annotations corresponding to a publication page are viewable to other users, and a graffiti mode in which annotations are persisted independent of any publication page.

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: User interfaces and methods are described for managing invitations in instant messaging communication threads. In some aspects, tabs are used to organize instant messaging threads in a condensed structure. In other aspects, a user may send and receive invitations that are then stored pending a receive user's acceptance or decline of the invitation. The status of these pending conversations is continuously displayed to the user so they are not forgotten. These and other aspects to user interfaces for instant messaging applications are described.

Abstract: User interfaces and methods are described for formatting and handling electronic ink messaging communications.

Abstract: A user interface architecture wherein user content and user interface are composed of documents with links. 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. Users can query their navigation histories and view their navigation histories in various ways.