Abstract: An application entity may be created and defined by a user at an application. Related service entities managed by different service applications may be matched and consolidated. The application entity may be associated with one or more related service entities. Metadata corresponding to the associated service entities may be provided to the application. Such metadata may enable the associated service entities to be managed from within the application.

Abstract: An application entity may be created and defined by a user at an application. Related service entities managed by different service applications may be matched and consolidated. The application entity may be associated with one or more related service entities. Metadata corresponding to the associated service entities may be provided to the application. Such metadata may enable the associated service entities to be managed from within the application.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for importing markup language formatted data into a spreadsheet document and for exporting markup language formatted data from a spreadsheet document. XML data is associated with an XML schema file defining XML data types and data type definitions for applying XML data to the document. An XML data map is prepared that relates that any XML data applied to the document back to corresponding XML elements or attributes defined in the associated schema file. When the document is imported into a spreadsheet application grid, the data map is parsed to find XPATHs in the imported spreadsheet document of XML data and the user entered data. Each XPATH is executed to determine the location, data types and user data for each cell or list object in the document that is related back to the associated schema file.

Abstract: Natural language (NL) text entered by a user in a document is recognized as corresponding to a tag, causing an action or action associated with the tag to be implemented in the document. Linguistic information, tags, and related actions are managed in a centralized catalog from which they can be accessed. An NL Parser called by a tag recognizer analyzes and normalizes the text using semantic information and returns a parse tree to the tag recognizer. The tag recognizer then compares the parse tree to a corresponding parse tree provided in a dictionary. If a match is found, an instance or tag related to the parse tree in the dictionary is returned to an application in which the document is open to carry out the action associated with the tag. If an ambiguity causes multiple matches to be returned, the user can select one of the instances and related action.

Abstract: A software application or resource is enabled to participate in a messaging service session conducted over a network and to respond to plain language queries much like a live participant. The software resource registers with a messaging service server when the software resource is initially executed, making it available if included in a user's list of contacts, to be added as a participant. During a messaging service session, a user can direct a message or query to the software resource that is participating. The software resource parses the query, and if the query is understood and data are available, transmits a response that appears within the instant message dialogue window of the users participating in the messaging service session.