Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for configurably recommending a software application update. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for configurably recommending a software application update is provided. The method includes receiving an update for a software application along with a set of ratings for the update. The method also includes comparing in memory of a computer the set of ratings with a pre-stored threshold. Finally, the method includes prompting in the computer to apply the update to the software application responsive to the set of ratings meeting the pre-stored threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to task bar management and provide a method, system and computer program product for graphical association of task bar entries. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for graphically associating a window with a task bar entry in a windowing operating system GUI can be provided. The method can include rendering multiple windows in a z-space sequence in a desktop of the windowing operating system graphical user interface and detecting a proximity event for an entry in a task bar for the windowing operating system graphical user interface. In response to detecting the proximity event, a corresponding one of the windows in the desktop can be highlighted without re-ordering the z-space sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to tabbed browsing and provide a method, system and computer program product for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications. In one embodiment of the invention a method for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications can be provided. The method can include populating a pop-up list for a consolidated application bar entry for multiple different instances of a single application with corresponding entries each for a different one of the multiple different instances of the single application. The method further can include associating at least one of the entries in the pop-up list with an instance of the single application configured for tabbed browsing. The method yet further can include configuring the associated at least one of the entries with a tabbed browser view.

Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: Techniques for annotation-based voting for online content are provided. In one aspect, a method for voting for online content is provided which includes associating content selected by a voter from a first content set with a user profile of the voter; identifying the selected content in a second content set upon the second content set being accessed by one or more users socially connected to the voter; and visually accenting the selected content in the second content set. The method may include retrieving profile information for the voter; and associating the profile information for the voter with the selected content in the second content set. The method may further include displaying the profile information for the voter along with the selected content in the second content set.

Abstract: Techniques for annotation-based voting for online content are provided. In one aspect, a method for voting for online content is provided which includes associating content selected by a voter from a first content set with a user profile of the voter; identifying the selected content in a second content set upon the second content set being accessed by one or more users socially connected to the voter; and visually accenting the selected content in the second content set. The method may include retrieving profile information for the voter; and associating the profile information for the voter with the selected content in the second content set. The method may further include displaying the profile information for the voter along with the selected content in the second content set.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to tabbed browsing and provide a method, system and computer program product for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications. In one embodiment of the invention a method for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications can be provided. The method can include populating a pop-up list for a consolidated application bar entry for multiple different instances of a single application with corresponding entries each for a different one of the multiple different instances of the single application. The method further can include associating at least one of the entries in the pop-up list with an instance of the single application configured for tabbed browsing. The method yet further can include configuring the associated at least one of the entries with a tabbed browser view.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to tabbed browsing and provide a method, system and computer program product for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications. In one embodiment of the invention a method for application bar browsing of tabbed-view applications can be provided. The method can include populating a pop-up list for a consolidated application bar entry for multiple different instances of a single application with corresponding entries each for a different one of the multiple different instances of the single application. The method further can include associating at least one of the entries in the pop-up list with an instance of the single application configured for tabbed browsing. The method yet further can include configuring the associated at least one of the entries with a tabbed browser view.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a request from an IM user to queue an unattended status and time-based message, retrieving a recovery trigger for the unattended status and time-based message, and assigning the unattended status and time-based message to a message queue.

Abstract: Updating a firmware package including receiving an update package for the firmware package, the firmware package including currently installed components supporting one of a plurality of software layers, the update package including update components that correspond to the currently installed components; retrieving information describing a state of the currently installed components; comparing the information describing the state of the currently installed components to information describing a state of the corresponding update components; constructing a revised update package that includes only update components having a state more recent than the state of the corresponding currently installed components; and updating the currently installed components with corresponding update components of the revised update package.

Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a request from an IM user to queue an unattended status and time-based message, retrieving a recovery trigger for the unattended status and time-based message, and assigning the unattended status and time-based message to a message queue.

Abstract: Processing computer graphics generated by a remote computer for streaming to a client computer for display on a display device operatively coupled to the client computer, the graphics streamed to the client computer in a plurality of frames, including, for each frame: selecting, by a graphics module of the remote computer in dependence upon a compression profile, regions of the frame to compress at a lower compression rate than other regions of the frame; compressing the frame for streaming; streaming the compressed frame to the client computer; receiving the compressed frame in the stream; decompressing the compressed frame; and displaying the decompressed frame on the display device operatively coupled to the client computer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment and provide a method, system and computer program product for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for unattended status and time-based messaging in an instant messaging (IM) environment can be provided. The method can include receiving a request from an IM user to queue an unattended status and time-based message, retrieving a recovery trigger for the unattended status and time-based message, and assigning the unattended status and time-based message to a message queue.

Abstract: A method for providing control signals may include, but is not limited to: detecting a first user input associated with at least one graphical user interface element; transmitting one or more control signals associated with the at least one graphical user interface element in response to the first user input; detecting a second user input associated with a grouping of two or more graphical user interface elements; and transmitting one or more control signals associated with the grouping of two or more graphical user interface elements in response to the second user input.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for the automated suggestion of a privacy level setting for a new connection in a social network. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for automated suggestions of privacy level settings for a new connection in a social network is provided. The method includes receiving a new connection for an end user of a social network and identifying mutual connections between the new connection and the end user. Thereafter, a suggested privacy setting for the new connection can be displayed in a display of a computer based upon privacy settings of the identified mutual connections. Optionally, a selection can be received of a different privacy setting than the suggested privacy setting and the different privacy setting can be established for the new connection.

Abstract: Dynamically balancing resources in a server farm, where the server farm includes servers organized in functional server groups with the servers in each functional server group assigned a same type of data processing task, the servers operatively coupled to data storage through a packet switching fabric, the servers operatively coupled to a system management server, and the balancing of resources includes: monitoring, by a resource balancing module of the system management server, CPU utilization in at least one of the functional server groups; identifying, by the resource balancing module in dependence upon the monitored CPU utilization, an overburdened functional server group, the overburdened functional server group's CPU utilization exceeding a CPU overburden threshold; and increasing, by the resource balancing module, CPU resources of the overburdened functional server group, including moving a transfer server from a source functional server group into the overburdened functional server group.

Abstract: Data associated with a workload is stored in a first composite array of data storage devices, and is automatically stored in a second composite array in response to predicting failure of one of the data storage devices in the first composite array. The data may be stored in the second composite array by either converting the first composite array or migrating the data to the second composite array. One of the data storage devices may predict its own failure and issue a predictive failure alert.

Abstract: System, computer implemented method and computer program product for preparing and navigating a query tree including a plurality of query nodes and informational nodes. Each query node is associated with a prompt, branching criteria and keywords. A current query node provides a prompt to a user and a user response is received and analyzed to identify branching criteria and keywords from the user response. The method navigates to another node in the query tree in consideration of the branching criteria received in the user response and a comparison between the keywords received in the user response and the keywords associated with the query nodes. The comparison may validate navigation to a destination node corresponding to the branching criteria or the comparison may indicate incorrect navigation of the query tree. Corrective navigation can be implemented in various ways based upon the keywords received in the user response.

Abstract: A method for creating a multi-dimensional audio map is provided. The method includes assigning a first audio attribute to a multi-dimensional space comprising at least three dimensions. The method also includes creating, by a computer processor responsive to user input, a first audio attribute layer within the multi-dimensional space, including a first dimension representing an audio attribute value of the first audio attribute for a location defined by at least two other dimensions. A method for generating a mixed output using the multi-dimensional audio map is also provided.