Abstract: A solution for interacting using electronic mail (email) is disclosed. An email thread can be identified, wherein the email thread includes at least a thread initiating email message and at least one response to the thread initiating email message. A thread status indicator can be established for the email thread. The thread status indictor can have a multitude of values. One of the values can reflect that a response has completed the email thread so that additional responses to the thread initiating email message are unnecessary. Another of the values can reflect that no response has completed the email thread so that additional responses to the thread initiating email message are necessary. The thread status indicator can be conveyed to a set of parties participating in the email thread.

Abstract: A copy request is received that individually identifies an information element associated with a first unopened object to copy from the first unopened object. The individually identified information element is copied from the first unopened object. The information element copied from the first unopened object is stored to a memory.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer readable media for selectively marking email as partially reviewed are described. An extent to which a user has reviewed an email is estimated, and a review value is assigned to the email based upon the estimated extent of review. A visual indicator associated with the email is displayed, wherein the appearance of the visual indicator is determined at least by the review value. In an exemplary embodiment, the email contains one or more recipient email addresses, wherein each recipient email address is associated with a recipient review value. In the exemplary embodiment, a visual indicator is displayed corresponding to the recipient review value associated with each recipient email address.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for electronic communication initiation contingent on busyness. The method includes receiving a request from a requester to contact a user. The requested contact includes a request to engage in electronic communication. The method also includes determining a busyness of the user. The busyness is determined by accessing a quantity of active contact related tasks for the user. The method also includes comparing the busyness of the user to a condition. The condition is a complex condition having threshold levels for a plurality of contact related tasks. The method also includes contacting the user in response to satisfaction of the condition.

Abstract: A follow-on message processing system for an integrated information management application. The follow-on message processing system includes a client computer coupled to a network, an email client coupled to the client computer, and a follow-on message controller coupled to the email client. The email client receives an email and a follow-on command from another email client. The follow-on command is associated with the email received from the other email client. The follow-on message controller interrupts access to the email client in response to a determination that an email draft is in progress. The email draft in progress is associated with the received email.

Abstract: Communicating an Instant Messaging (IM) user's availability status message is managed by a user-defined shortcut command, which is used to generate a user-drafted status response. When the user receives an instant message at an inopportune time, the user inputs the user-defined shortcut command, which results in the user-drafted status response being automatically transmitted to a sender of the instant message that was received at the inopportune time.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for providing conditional reminders for electronic messages. The solution can identify an electronic message conveyed from a sender to a recipient, wherein the electronic message is an email message or text exchange message. A software program can determine a response time and a response condition for the electronic message. When the response time expires and when the response condition is unsatisfied, a software program can present a reminder to the sender and/or the recipient, where the reminder indicates that a response is due. When a software program detects a recipient action that satisfies the response condition before the response time expires, no reminder will be presented to either the sender or the recipient.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a solution for permitting users to customize subject headings of email subscriptions. The customizations can be applied on a per subscription basis and/or on a per sender basis. Further, the customizations can be performed by a software program that changes an original email heading established by a subscription providing source. Specifically, the solution recognizes that most, if not all, subscription emails are automatically generated in consistent fashion and inherently have a repeating structure. The disclosed solution permits a user to identity portions of these repeating structures, which are to be used to generate replacement subject headings designed to be meaningful to the user. The solution can optionally maintain the original subject heading, which can be used in many situations, such as for use when replying or forwarding an email.

Abstract: In an instant message (IM) method and system, a user of an IM client is provided with an over-shoulder status indicating the user has a visitor. The method and system further include receiving a preference setting for an over-shoulder status for defining an over-shoulder status toggle input. Mouse and keyboard strokes entered into the IM client by the user are then monitored in real-time. In response to any of the mouse and keyboard strokes matching the toggle input, the over-shoulder status is automatically toggled, whereby the over-shoulder status is updated in a contact list of at least one other IM client, such that activation of the over-shoulder status serves as a warning that the user has a visitor.

Abstract: A tool-tip presentation system for multimedia files. The tool-tip presentation system can be configured to respond to proximity events associated with a selected entry in a list of multimedia files such as screen captured images or complete audio files. Based upon the selected entry, a corresponding multimedia sample such as a thumbnail image of a screen captured image or an audio sample of the audio file can be retrieved and presented as a tool-tip. In particular, the tool-tip can be displayed in a position which is proximate to the selected entry. In this way, one who interacts with the list of multimedia files need not load each complete multimedia file in the list in order to determine the contents of the multimedia file. Rather, the multimedia sample in the tool-tip can suffice.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for fast navigation in a hierarchical tree control. A user is able to navigate more efficiently to a target file, folder or other artifact by eliminating the need to individually expand on any intervening folders that are above in hierarchy to the target file or folder. Under a fast navigation mode, a fast navigation utility displays a hierarchical tree control based on one or more fast navigation display formats. The fast navigation display formats control (i) the type of content that is displayed in the hierarchical tree control and (ii) how the hierarchical tree control is visually displayed to a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides enhanced dropdown selection lists and combination boxes. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: providing a graphical user interface (GUI) control that displays a dropdown list when actuated, and displaying indicia in the GUI control indicating a number of entries in the dropdown list, wherein a user can visually determine from the indicia the number of entries in the dropdown list prior to display of the dropdown list. A method in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention includes: providing a GUI control having an entry field; and displaying indicia in the GUI control indicating whether the entry field of the GUI control is writable, wherein a user can visually determine from the indicia whether the entry field of the GUI control is writable before placing a cursor in the entry field.

Abstract: A method of and system for providing enhanced user control of computer chat minimize a chat window in response to user input and then restore the chat window in response to receipt of a message from a sender, in which the message has a predetermined characteristic. The user input may include activation of an intelligent or smart minimize function. An example of a predetermined characteristic that may cause the chat window to be restored in the intelligent minimized mode is the presence of the user's name in a chat message. Other examples of predetermined characteristics that may cause the chat window to be restored include the text of the message being in a bold font or otherwise marked as being urgent, the sender of the message being on an exception list or occupying a management position with respect to the recipient. Embodiments may include a shout function by which a sender can override the intelligent mode.

Abstract: A tool-tip presentation system for multimedia files. The tool-tip presentation system can be configured to respond to proximity events associated with a selected entry in a list of multimedia files such as screen captured images or complete audio files. Based upon the selected entry, a corresponding multimedia sample such as a thumbnail image of a screen captured image or an audio sample of the audio file can be retrieved and presented as a tool-tip. In particular, the tool-tip can be displayed in a position which is proximate to the selected entry. In this way, one who interacts with the list of multimedia files need not load each complete multimedia file in the list in order to determine the contents of the multimedia file. Rather, the multimedia sample in the tool-tip can suffice.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-usable medium for: receiving a user input to activate a clip utility within an open application window; enabling a selection of a particular portion of the open widow using a selection functionality of the clip utility, wherein the particular portion is less than a total area of the application window; and on receipt of a request to clip the selected portion while the portion is still selected, dynamically clipping the particular portion from the remainder of the application window and displaying only the clipped, particular portion of the open window as an separate window clip.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-readable medium for indicating new features in a software user interface are presented. In one embodiment, the method detects a version identifier corresponding to an element of a software user interface. The version identifier associates the element with a particular version of the software user interface. The method detects a preference setting for the software user interface. The preference setting designates one or more version identifiers for which corresponding elements are displayed with a visual coding. The method displays one or more user interface elements with said visual coding to a user. The visual coding indicates the elements that correspond to the version identifiers designated by the preference setting.

Abstract: A computer-implementable method, system and computer media for allocating and managing insignificant areas of Graphical User Interface (GUI) real estate are presented. In a preferred embodiment, the computer-implementable method includes identifying an insignificant area of GUI real estate in a GUI that is used by a first application. The identified insignificant area of GUI real estate is then populated with a graphical element of a second application.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium are disclosed for previewing the user interaction steps of a wizard within a graphical user interface (GUI). User gestures are performed on the wizard's associated menu item or graphical icon to display a non-executable replica of the wizard in a variant visual style. The non-executable replica of the wizard is displayed in a variant visual style to signify that the wizard is in preview mode and that it cannot be executed as an active wizard. Predetermined GUI widgets (e.g., buttons, text boxes, checkmarks, etc.) are disabled and do not respond to user gestures. However, predetermined GUI navigational widgets (e.g., tabs, previous/next buttons, drop-down boxes) are enabled to allow the user to navigate from one wizard user interaction to another.

Abstract: Receiving participant-specified priority levels for each of a plurality of collaborative events. The participant-specified priority levels are used to calculate relative availability levels for each of a plurality of participants in each of a plurality of timeslots. For each of a plurality of timeslots, the relative availability levels for each of the plurality of participants is consolidated to provide a composite timeslot availability level. Composite timeslot availability levels for each of the plurality of timeslots are displayed on a graphical user interface. A collaborative event is scheduled by selecting one or more timeslots having a higher composite availability level relative to other timeslots.

Abstract: A method of chat messaging can include, establishing communication links with at least a first and a second participant for exchanging chat messages through a chat engine. A state change can be detected for the first participant. An alternate communication channel and an alternate communication channel address can be determined from a user profile of the first participant. While maintaining the communication link with the second participant, a different communication link can be established using the alternative communication channel and the alternative communication channel address. The first participant and the second participant can be communicatively linked subsequent to establishing the connection through the chat engine.