Abstract: A computer system and storage medium that in an embodiment count the number of times that a file or registry entry is added, changed, or deleted at clients in a network. If the count exceeds a threshold, then a warning is sent to the clients. The warning may prompt the clients to delete or rename the file or registry entry, run an anti-virus program, quarantine the file or registry entry, or issue a message. In this way, viruses may be detected at clients.

Abstract: A method that in an embodiment counts the number of times that a file or registry entry is added, changed, or deleted at clients in a network. If the count exceeds a threshold, then a warning is sent to the clients. The warning may prompt the clients to delete or rename the file or registry entry, run an anti-virus program, quarantine the file or registry entry, or issue a message. In this way, viruses may be detected at clients.

Abstract: A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for tracking user interactions comprising receiving a first request associated with a first user, to exchange a communication with a second user about one of a plurality of elements of a web-page, wherein the plurality of elements includes at least one of graphical elements and textual elements; in response to the first request, exchanging a communication between the first user and the second user; capturing the communication; storing an interaction object comprising the communication, wherein storing includes associating the interaction object with the one of the plurality of elements of the web-page; and serving a modified version of the web-page to a third user; wherein the modified version specifies the interaction object being associated with the one of the plurality of elements of the web-page.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for commercial transactions for the sale of images carried out over short-range wireless transmissions. In one embodiment, the transaction may be initiated by a vendor (e.g., a professional photographer), who transmits a wireless signal including an offer for sale of an image. A customer wishing to purchase the image responds by sending a wireless signal including an acceptance of the offer. In another embodiment, the transaction may be initiated by a customer, who transmits a wireless signal including a request for an image to be fulfilled by a vendor. A vendor agreeing to supply the image responds by sending a wireless signal including an acceptance of the request. By offering the images to customers who are in close proximity to the image capture, the vendor may increase the likelihood that the images will be purchased.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide techniques for controlling access to digital images based physical and temporal proximity to the image capture event. In one embodiment, an imaging device capturing a digital image broadcasts an invitation to wireless devices in the surrounding area. The wireless devices respond with an acceptance, including the email address (or some other network address) of the device owner. The digital image is made available at a network location with restricted access. Access to the image is controlled with an access list based on the acceptances received by the imaging device.

Abstract: A palette is displayed that includes widgets. A specification of a first widget selected from among the widgets in the palette is received along with a first widget location, a keyword, and a keyword location. Pages are found that, when rendered, include a term located at a term location and an element located at a respective element location, where the term matches the keyword and the element matches the first widget. In various embodiments, the identifiers of the pages are sorted based on distances between the first widget location and the element location, distances between the keyword location and the term location, differences between widths and heights of the first widget and the element, and/or based on matches between the visual attribute for the first widget and a visual characteristic for the element.

Abstract: A request is received that includes a primary keyword and a persistent keyword. In response to the request, a root page is found that includes a first term that matches the primary keyword. Descendant pages of the root page are searched for a second term that matches the persistent keyword. The search determines that the descendant pages are at levels on paths from the root page and that the levels are within a depth from the root page. A descendant page is found that is a descendant of the root page and that includes a second term that matches the persistent keyword. A root link that points at the root page and a descendant link that points at the descendant page are sent to the requester. If the number of times that the primary keyword was received is greater than a threshold number, then the primary keyword is added to the persistent keywords.

Abstract: An identifier of a root page, a keyword, and a depth are received from a client. Descendant pages in paths from the root page are searched. The descendant pages exist in the paths at levels within the depth from the root page. A term in a first descendant page is found that matches the keyword. A child link that points to a child page of the root page is found. A path relevancy for the child link is determined by performing a logical-or operation on page relevancies of each of the descendant pages in a path. A copy of the root page, a descendant link that points at the first descendant page, a match score for the first descendant page, and a path relevancy for the path of the child link are sent to the client. In this way, pages that are linked from root pages may be searched.

Abstract: A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user's experience is customized according to user preferences.

Abstract: A media stream aggregation mechanism receives and analyzes multiple media streams and creates an aggregate media stream output based on user preferences. In this manner a media provider that uses the media stream aggregation mechanism potentially may provide a customized presentation to each user based on user preferences. By providing the aggregation of multiple media streams to a user, the user's experience is customized according to user preferences.

Abstract: In an embodiment, clients create trade profiles that specify trade criteria. In various embodiments, the trade criteria specify categories of files that are desired, specify files that are desired, or specify files that are available to trade. The clients send the trade profiles to a server, which selects available files that meet the trade criteria of other clients. The server sends a specification of the selected files to the clients. In response, the clients lock their files, which prevents presentation and send the locked files to each other. The clients receive the locked files and unlock them. After expiration of a time period, the clients once again lock the files. In this way, a file may be traded by clients, but only one client may access the file at any one time.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product, and method collect musical preference data from a plurality of digital media players and generate therefrom a “collaborative” playlist of media files. The collaborative playlist may be used, for example, to identify and play back media files that most, if not all, of the users of the digital media players would likely find enjoyable.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method that generate a user profile and verify the authorship of a second message against the user profile. As such, messages inconsistent with the user profile, which may be indicative of authorship by another user, may be detected primarily from one side of a communication, generally resulting in safer instant messaging and/or emailing. Additionally, reauthentication and/or blocking capabilities may be utilized to handle messages inconsistent with the user profile.

Abstract: Methods and computer program product are provided for implementing collaborative correction of online content. A user of a web page is enabled to flag a location of an error and a category of the error. A web server logs error data into a database. A notification is sent to a web page administrator. Error data is cleared from the database responsive to the web page administrator fixing the error.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method that emphasize a least one drop destination for a selected entity based upon monitored drop destinations. Drop destinations may be emphasized by generating a plurality of path vectors between the selected entity and at least a portion of the plurality of drop destinations. Generally, by emphasizing drop destinations, the potential drop destinations for the selected entity may be anticipated and emphasized to the user, which may increase the likelihood that the user will drop onto the desired drop destination. Moreover, a user may choose one of the drop destinations by dropping the selected entity along the path vector associated with the desired drop destination. As such, drag and drop operations may be successfully completed with fewer mouse movements and/or less precision, often resulting in fewer accidental drops.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a first method of improving security of a network system is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) providing a plurality of devices coupled via a network, wherein one or more of the devices are adapted to execute at least one client and one or more of the devices are adapted to execute at least one server in a client-server relationship; and (2) employing software, functionality of which is based on client-specific criteria or operational condition criteria of the system, to reduce a number of times a user of a client of the system must provide first authentication data to access data from one or more servers of the system. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: In an embodiment, if a departing player requests to leave a game before the game is complete, a waiting player is selected and the waiting player replaces the departing player in the game. Replacing the departing player with the waiting player includes assigning a play state of the departing player to the waiting player. The play state is then updated in response to game control input events received from the waiting player. In various embodiments, the waiting player is selected based on skill levels, play styles, time preferences, or game stage preferences of the players, or based on an input criteria specified by the departing or remaining players. In various embodiments, the play state may include a location within the game, an inventory, or a score.

Abstract: An instant messaging system having logic for managing IM messages and an intelligent queuing mechanism. One aspect of the present invention is a method for selectively filtering instant messages, comprising receiving an instant message and analyzing the instant message to generate a priority score. Another aspect of the present invention is a graphical user interface for an instant messaging application, comprising at least one visible conversation pane for displaying relatively higher priority conversations, and at least one minimized conversation pane representing relatively lower priority conversations to the at least one minimized conversation panel.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program product for measuring resource utilization of web pages and providing intelligent handling of web activity based on the measured resource utilization. Resource utilization (e.g., CPU and/or memory utilization) on one or more client systems is measured in response to the client system loading and/or running a web page. A plurality of these resource utilization measures are aggregated for each of a plurality of web pages. Hence, each web page has an aggregate resource utilization measure associated therewith. These aggregate measures are used to provide intelligent handling of web activity, such as search result prioritization, link and/or content categorization and management, and power conservation. In this way, a web page may be automatically created based on the aggregate measures so that when interpreted on a client system the web page displays content tailored to the client system and/or computing context.

Abstract: A client-side search indexing program works transparently and in conjunction with a server based search index. The combined search indexes provide a more accurate and up-to-date image of the Web, customized to the interests of each individual user. The client-side indexer customizes indexing of particular Web pages to the preferences and usage patterns of the user. The user initially installs and configures the client-side indexer on the client. The requested indexes are automatically refreshed and integrated with the main server-side indexes during a search. When the user performs a search, the client-side indexes may be combined with the main server-side index. The combined indexes provide accurate search results for the particular user.