Abstract: Methods for providing to the presenter visual feedback regarding the screen data received by one or more viewers in an online presentation environment having a presenter transmitting screen data to one or more viewers over a network may include: transmitting data representing changed visual data; receiving confirmation of receipt of the changed visual data from one or more viewers; generating a representation of the visual data received by one or more viewers responsive to the received confirmation data; and displaying the generated representation at the presenter. Corresponding systems may include: a transmitter which transmits data representing changed visual data; a receiver which receives confirmation of receipt of the changed visual data from one or more viewers; and a display generator which generates a representation of the visual data received by one or more viewers responsive to the received confirmation data, and which displays the generated representation at the presenter.

Abstract: An apparatus and computer program product for collaborating is disclosed. Responsive to a computer system receiving a selection from a user for a portion of a document, the computer system identifies a context for the selected portion of the document. The computer system identifies a set of collaboration channels corresponding to the context. The computer system determines whether the set of collaboration channels corresponding to the context is empty. The computer system then creates a new collaboration channel based on the context for the selected portion of the document responsive to the set of collaboration channels corresponding to the context being empty.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for retrieving disparate design data in connection with the design of a device, a service, or a system. A user design application enables users to store disparate data according to predefined links in a central data source. The user design application also enables users to query the central data source to retrieve relevant disparate design data based on the predefined relationships.

Abstract: Displaying overlapping windows from a client device. Windows are displayed at a client device with a first window overlapping a second window on a single display. The first window is a current window. The current window is based on front to back ordering of windows displayed at the client device. Pixels in a region of the first window are captured and sent to a display server. At the display server, the first window is displayed on a first display region. The second window becomes the current window, resulting in capturing and sending pixels in a region of the second window to the display server. At the display server, the second window is displayed on a second display region. At the display server, the first and second windows are displayed in a non-overlapping fashion by displaying the first window and the second window on separate display regions.

Abstract: Provided is a system and method for facilitating or creating a gateway to integrate with 3D virtual worlds (e.g., Second Life and Sun Wonderland) and external applications (e.g., data visualization gateways, process modeling systems, artificial intelligences, social networks, and other virtual worlds) for three-dimensional visualization of data in a virtual world. The visualization tool may include, for example, a three-dimensional graph using various colors, dimensions, shapes, and other properties as desired, to represent different data and data values. The avatars in the virtual world, as controlled by the game's players or users in the real world, can point to or otherwise interact with elements in the three-dimensional graph whereupon the base data or other related informational data would be displayed with respect to that given cell or element of the graph.

Abstract: Users in public forums often mention certain topics in the course of their discussions. Member's comments in messages to other members are analyzed to obtain terms that co-occur with topics. Frequencies of co-occurrence of a term with topics are normalized based on frequency of the term in a random sample of message. The terms are ranked by their normalized frequency of co-occurrence with a topic in messages. The top terms are selected based on their rank. Analysis of demographic information associated with members that mentioned top terms associated with a topic is displayed in graphical format that highlights the relationship between the age, gender, and usage of the top terms over time. The demographic information presented includes average age of members that mentioned a top term or their gender information within a selected time interval.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for sharing and collaborating around a video source by maintaining and providing to users a list of a plurality of contacts containing both video source device contacts and interactive message source contacts. This allows for collaboration among users by permitting them to communicate with each other around an automatically-shared video source, to interact with automatically shared video sources, and to make decisions based on these shared video sources.

Abstract: An electronic meeting application is disclosed which allows electronic meetings to be recorded and archived. The electronic meeting is driven by a plurality of input sources synchronized according to each one's order of play in the meeting. This synchronization is maintained by a main meeting timeline. The disclosed electronic meeting application records each of the input sources into separately accessible data files. The data files may be converted into metadata files that can used for searching purposes. Metadata description files are also generated that describe the appearance of each of the objects displaying the information from the input sources. On replay of the recorded meeting, the meeting application uses the metadata files to re-render the meeting interface and display the recordings of the selected input sources. Therefore, a user may select the specific content from the meeting to replay.

Abstract: Techniques for real-time observation assessment are provided. The techniques, which are designed for educators, take advantage of handheld computers, desktop/laptop computers and Internet access in order to reduce the paperwork associated with conventional educational assessments. An array of instructional assessment applications are designed to run on handheld computers. The instructional assessment applications may be based on existing and widely used paper methodologies. A common Web-based platform for assessment application distribution, selection, download, data management and reporting is also provided. Users can then periodically synchronize instructional data (assessments, diagnostic results, notes and/or schedules) to the Web site. At the Web site, browser-based reports and analysis can be viewed, administered and shared via electronic mail.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is suppressing a mail transmission loop between the communication terminals.

Abstract: Wallit is a system of location-based digital canvases, namely “Walls”. These “Walls” are defined with a radius based on the location's geographic coordinates. Content of “Walls” include text, pictures, photos, and videos, placed onto that “wall” by users of Wallit's mobile application or by businesses using Wallit's various web interfaces. Ability of users and businesses to submit content to walls can vary based on where the point of submission is with respect to the Wall's location, on privileges of a user or business, or on time of submission. Display of content on Walls is also through Wallit's mobile application and web interfaces. Display of each piece of content can be accompanied by a profile depicting the submitter of content, and privileges of submitter or from which location the submission was made. Content, their placements, and user privileges are subject to monetization by Wallit Inc. who maintains their control and order.

Abstract: A communication apparatus which facilitates inline comments includes a client processing unit and an electronic memory device. The client processing unit receives an electronic communication and generates a reply communication for response to the electronic communication in an inline comment mode. The reply communication includes a copy of original content from the electronic communication. The electronic memory device is coupled to the client processing unit. The electronic memory device stores a plurality of inline comment rules. The inline comment rules facilitate adjoining comment content to the copy of original content within the reply communication according to user commands. The comment content is uniquely identified from standard response content according to the inline comment rules in effect during the inline comment mode.

Abstract: Messages to a focal user are organized by relevance of the message originators. A visual representation of the messages includes a focal user representation (textual or graphic) and multiple contact representations (textual or graphic). The contact representations are displayed at respective relevance distances from the focal user representation. Text regions present the contents of messages from the source contacts, e.g., using graphic novel-style word balloons. The contact representations can be positioned on screen in maps, radar format, or other configurations. Users can filter contacts according to relevance, and can filter messages by pertinence.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for switching a VM screen in an environment in which a plurality of OSs operating on a virtual machine monitor (VMM), are provided. The VM screen switching apparatus provides VM screen switching so that features of a home screen or an operation screen provided by each VM can be shown. The VM screen switching apparatus provides a user interface for enabling a user to select a desired VM from a plurality of VMs. The apparatus determines a VM to be displayed as a foreground according to a user input signal, and combines graphic data of a currently displayed screen of a VM with graphic data for a screen of the determined VM to create a screen displaying VM screen switching, and outputs the created screen to a display device.

Abstract: According to a first aspect there is provided a method for associating a file that contains the image with a second file that is identified by input received at a set-top box from a user. According to a second aspect there is provided a method for capturing an image that is displayed on a display device that is associated with the set-top box; and communicating the image over a network. According to a third aspect there is provided a method for adjusting a frame that is displayed on a display device that is associated with the set-top box; capturing an image that is displayed inside the frame on the display device; and processing the image. According to a fourth aspect there is provided a method for capturing an image displayed on a display device associated with the set-top box; associating the image with a rule; and processing the rule to prevent the image from being printed.

Abstract: A system and method for managing and displaying data messages includes a computing device configured to receive stream data, assign data messages of the stream data to one or more display columns of a graphical user interface, and display the data messages in the assigned columns. The stream data may be embodied as short data messages such as text messages having predetermined maximum character length. The data messages may be assigned to the display columns based on meta-data associated with the data messages such as the author of the data message, the source of the data message, and/or the type of the data message.

Abstract: An item-providing system supplies items to a user device for consumption at the user device via communication infrastructure. The device may correspond to a book reader device or other type of device. In one illustrative case, the item-providing system delivers user-supplied items to the user device based on a protocol.

Abstract: A computer-implemented system and method supporting microfinance funds aggregation for a retail investor are disclosed. A particular example embodiment includes receiving a purchase request at a host site from an investor at an investor site, the purchase request including information identifying a security offered for sale by a security issuer on the host site; facilitating payment for the security by the investor via a financial site; receiving confirmation of payment for the security; and sending confirmation of payment for the security to the investor.

Abstract: A graphical user interface in which entities of the interface are manipulated using manipulation operations. The graphical user interface comprises a selectable interface entity upon which manipulation operations are commence-able, a first interface entity distinct from the selectable interface entity, and a second interface entity distinct from the first interface entity and the selectable interface entity. Upon commencement of a manipulation operation on the selectable interface entity, at least one of the first interface entity and the second interface entity is visually accentuated.

Abstract: Collaborative editing of electronic documents in realtime is provided. A host serves a client code over a network to a plurality of clients that each employ a browser to run the client code. The client code revises the text document locally in response to user input, frequently sends those edits to the host, receives updates from the other clients via the host, and revises the local text document accordingly. Each client, in some embodiments, stores three variables, one for edits not yet reported to the host, one for edits reported by not yet acknowledged, and one for the text document as modified by the acknowledged edits. Updates from the other clients are applied to the three variables according to certain rules. A composition of the three variables yields a version of the text document. The host keeps records of which edits were introduced by which client.

Abstract: On a document collaboration system, such as a wiki, the content of postings to the collaboration system is monitored for sensitive information. Under some embodiments, when instances of such sensitive information are detected, an e-mail is sent to the user that posted the collaboration page posting. In other embodiments, a message is then sent to a person associated with the entity that indicates that the information placed on the collaboration page is confidential information or is related to an asset of the entity. In further embodiments, individual people are assigned responsibility for monitoring the use of certain instances of sensitive information on the collaboration system. Each user is only notified when the instances they are responsible for appear on a collaboration page. In other embodiments, if a collaboration page includes an instance of sensitive information, access to the collaboration page is changed such that fewer people can access the collaboration page.

Abstract: A method implemented at least in part by a computing device for presenting a contract document for collaborative decision making comprises displaying a contract document, providing an interface adjacent the contract document for initiating a collaborative discussion activity, receiving a designation of at least one clause of the contract for collaboration and at least one recipient to be invited to participate in the collaborative discussion activity, receiving a call for a decision to be made relating to the at least one clause of the contract, sending the call for the decision to the at least one recipient in a communication, and updating a database to store at least the communication, an identity of a sender and the at least one recipient and any discussion or decision received in response to the communication.

Abstract: Distributed storage of collaboration data is managed over internal and external data stores in a collaboration service environment based on categorization of the data. The categorization may be based on type of data (e.g. structured vs. unstructured), how the data is accessed, an expected storage life for the data, back-up requirements, and the like. Data that can be stored externally according to its category is then directed to the external storage through a storage provider. A unique identifier associated with the location of the externally stored data is saved in one of the internal data stores for seamless retrieval of data in a transparent manner to the user.

Abstract: A persona determination approach can be utilized to apply digital personas across multiple communications domains. A service gateway can determine whether to transfer a request for communications services to a Persona Determination Mechanism (PDM). The PDM can select a digital persona based on available information and transmit the digital persona to the service gateway. The service gateway can process the communications services based on the selected digital persona or based on the determination not to transfer the request. In some methods, the service gateway can forward the processed request to one or more network elements for further processing. Related systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: As a user of a social networking system views a page that includes information provided by the system, certain types of social interactions are monitored. If an interaction monitored for is detected, at least one recommendation unit is identified to present to user on the page. The recommendation unit is identified based on a description of the interaction. The recommendation unit suggests that the user perform a social interaction in the social networking system. The recommendation unit is transmitted to a device of the user and is presented to the user on the page without having to reload the entire page.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides a peer-to-peer communication between source and target boards of a shared digital whiteboard. In one embodiment, a first system executing a first browser displaying a first web page containing a source board of the shared electronic whiteboard sends multiple packets (over a network) to a second system executing a second browser displaying a second web page containing a peer/target board of the shared electronic board, with each sent packet having a network destination address set to an IP address of the second system, the multiple packets specifying a content of the source board. The second system receives the multiple packets and reproduces the content in the target board.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dynamically and collaboratively generating software documentation are described. In particular, methods and systems provide for in-context authoring, identification, and presentation of software documentation based on one or more determined contexts. For example, methods and systems enable a computing device to identify one or more current contexts for the device, and to provide documentation content based on the identified context.

Abstract: Session initiation using successive inputs is described. In an implementation, a determination is made as to when a sufficient number of successive inputs have been collected to uniquely identify two or more clients from a plurality of clients. Each of the successive inputs is input via a respective user interface output by a respective client. Responsive to the determination, an interactive session is initiated involving the two or more clients that were uniquely identified.

Abstract: The present invention provides electronic methods and apparatus for interactively authoring, sharing and analyzing digital video content. Methods for authoring include displaying visual data, defining each traversal as a time-based sequence of frames and annotating and storing a record of the traversal and its associated audio records. Defining the traversal includes interactively panning the visual data by positioning an overlay window relative to the visual data and zooming in or out by resizing the overlay window. In alternative embodiments, the visual data may be displayed in a rectangular layout or a cylindrical layout. The methods are practiced using an integrated graphical interface, including an overview region displaying the visual data, a detail region displaying current data within the overlay window, and a worksheet region displaying a list of previously stored annotated traversal records.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for integrating services in a calendar application via the meeting request functionality of calendar programs comprising: initiating one or multiple services, wherein the initiation may involve the transmission of calendar event information from the calendar application to the service, the service requests being sent as meeting request e-mails to one or more service e-mail addresses, each service e-mail address representing a service, receiving the update requests generated by the one or multiple services, the update requests being meeting request response e-mails or one or multiple second meeting request e-mails processing the received update requests, and updating the calendar application.

Abstract: An exemplary method includes associating one or more workflow tasks with each of a plurality of universal workflow steps, the one or more workflow tasks being specific to a provisioning workflow that corresponds to a first type of network circuit, receiving a request to provision a network circuit of the first type, displaying, in response to the request, graphical depictions of the universal workflow steps in a graphical user interface, determining a completion status of each of the universal workflow steps based on a completion status of each of the one or more workflow tasks associated with each of the universal workflow steps, and graphically indicating in the graphical user interface the completion status of each of the universal workflow steps. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first portion of content relating to a first markup document may be displayed to a user of the client system. Information relating to the first portion of content is stored at a server system. An action to display a current version of the first markup document on the client system is received. A current version of content for the first markup document is retrieved from the host server. The stored information relating to the first portion of content may be used to identify a third portion of content associated with the first markup document which has not previously been displayed to the user. The display of markup document content associated with the first markup document may then be modified in a manner which facilitates the user in identifying the third portion of content.

Abstract: The invention includes systems and methods for conducting online contests of user-contributed media works and entertainment works. The invention includes anti-gaming or anti-cheating methods in such contests. The invention includes a method of providing an online media network for user-contributed content. The system quickly and accurately identifies quality content from a vast pool of user-contributed content. User-contributed content is rated by those who contribute and those who view content. Good entries bubble to the top, which means that users can find good music and videos easily. Fraud detection devices automatically detect and remove fraudulent ratings. Contests and prizes associated with specific categories of content provide incentives for contributors to provide quality content and rate many pairs of works. Identified top-rated content is made available individually, or as a continuous stream of user-contributed content.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product is disclosed for supporting role-based access control in a collaborative environment, wherein pluralities of users work together in a collaborative process using a software system. The method comprises componentizing the software system into a multitude of software components, and limiting access to specific software components to certain users based on roles assigned to the users as defined by a run-time state of the collaborative process. The set of components that a user can access is dynamic, that set can change based on the “context” or the step where the user is in a collaborative workflow/process.

Abstract: In some example embodiments, a method includes defining a tracking area for a first avatar in an online immersive environment, wherein the tracking area encompasses the first avatar and some defined area beyond the first avatar. The first avatar represents a first person who is a guardian of a second person in the real world and external to the online immersive environment. A second avatar represents the second person in the online immersive environment. The method includes tracking a path through the online immersive environment of the tracking area for the first avatar. The method includes marking a region in the online immersive environment as a safe zone for the second avatar, after the path of the tracking area for the first avatar has traversed the region. The method includes authorizing access to the region marked as the safe zone for the second avatar in the online immersive environment.

Abstract: In an exemplary system, a content hub subsystem is selectively and communicatively coupled to a plurality of access devices. At least a subset of the access devices is associated with a predefined group of users. The content hub subsystem is configured to receive data representative of content from at least one of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users, map the content to the predefined group of users, and provide data representative of the content to the access devices associated with the predefined group of users. Each of the access devices associated with the predefined group of users is configured to generate at least one interactive graphical object representative of the content, and generate and present a graphical user interface including the interactive graphical object.

Abstract: A method of quoting content from a post in a discussion forum can include selecting content within a source post of the discussion forum and performing a drag operation. A representation of the selected content can be dragged in coordination with motion of an onscreen pointer. The method further can include inserting the selected content within an open reply form in the discussion forum upon termination of the drag operation.

Abstract: This disclosure provides various embodiments for searching one or more repositories hosting, storing, or maintaining a plurality of development artifacts. A search query for development artifacts is received through an interface of an integrated development environment, the search query identifying at least one search term. An index is used to identify a set of search results, the index identifying a plurality of development artifacts and including context data identifying, for each development artifact in the plurality of development artifacts, at least one attribute of the respective development artifact. The set of search results identify a subset of the plurality of development artifacts determined to potentially relate to the at least one search term. At least a portion of the set of search results are presented to a user, the listing including at least one development artifact in the subset of the plurality of development artifacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for viewing a collaborative document and a portable document at a device in a network. The collaborative document is hosted on a server and accessible through a network. The device hosts a corresponding portable document. The document processing application allows viewing of the portable document and the collaborative document on the device, wherein the user may select the desired view. In one embodiment, each view is displayed as a tabbed window, and switching views is enabled by selection of a tab. When the device is disconnected from the network, the user may view and process the portable document.

Abstract: Although current conferencing applications provide many abilities, some of these abilities are limited. Various embodiments described herein provide one or more of systems, methods, software, and data structures that allow a document, or other file type, to be used to connect to a network-based conference, such as over the Internet, where a view of a local copy of the document is synchronized between participants. Participation abilities of certain network-based conference participants may be limited in such embodiments. Such limits may be enforced locally for each participant, on a server by preventing data representative of certain actions from being broadcast to other participants, or in other ways as described and would be readily apparent herein.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to within the context of a shared document review process to receive an updated comment associated with an original comment by a comment series identifier. Further actions may include generating a comment differentiation identifier that serves to differentiate the updated comment from the original comment, and storing at least a portion of the updated comment and the comment differentiation identifier in a collaboration comment repository. Using stored document version history and a timeline, the state of the document at a particular point in time, and a history of the comment series can be rendered as a result. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managing and processing building plan documents. An electronic building plan document including a plurality of plan sheets is received. A first plan sheet is provided for display. A user interface is provided via which a user can select or enter a first comment associated with the first plan sheet. A user interface is provided via which the user can associate metadata, including a project type or discipline, with the first comment. A first plurality of comments, including the first comment, is stored in association with respective metadata. A user interface via which the user can select, by category and/or subcategory a plurality of comments to be included in a plan correction list, and a correction list is generated including a plurality of comments specified by a plurality of users.

Abstract: The present invention discloses methods of archiving and optimizing lectures, presentations and other captured video for playback, particularly for blind and low vision individuals. A digital imaging device captures a preselected field of view that is subject to periodic change such as a whiteboard in a classroom. A sequence of frames is captured. Frames associated with additions or erasures to the whiteboard are identified. The Cartesian coordinates of the regions of these alterations within the frame are identified. When the presentation is played back, the regions that are altered are enlarged or masked to assist the low vision user. In another embodiment of the invention, the timing of the alterations segments the recorded audio into chapters so that the blind user can skip forward and backward to different sections of the presentation.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically updating searches are described. In one embodiment, a first search result may be compared with a second search result to automatically identify at least one data item within the first search result that is changed relative to the second search result. The at least one data item may comprise a transaction term. A notification of the at least one data item may be transmitted to a user device.

Abstract: Suggested edits to translated text are enabled to be provided by users. The suggested edits are associated with the translated text in a content database. A subsequent user may view the translated text and any associated suggested edits. The subsequent user may be enabled to approve a suggested edit to the translated text. The translated text is enabled to be displayed as modified according to the approved suggested edit. This may include enabling multiple instances of the translated text to be displayed as modified according to the suggested edit if the translated text occurs multiple times (e.g., appears multiple times in one or more documents) in the content database. Further users that attempt to view the translated text in a document of the content database will be provided with the modified version of the translated text.

Abstract: The present description refers to a computer implemented method, computer program product, and computer system to receive a list of computer events, each of the events including a user interacting with a computer, determine one or more desktop operations, with each desktop operation including one or more computer events that are performed to accomplish the desktop operation, determine one or more knowledge actions, where each knowledge action includes a group of one or more desktop operations performed using a same application on a same information object, determine one or more tasks, with each task including a group of knowledge actions that include information objects that are semantically related, and combine two or more tasks that are temporally related.

Abstract: A system for online collaboration includes an application for online collaboration, the application including an application feature set, a control module programmed to receive a request from a user to access a tenancy associated with the application on the system, the tenancy including a site provisioned for a tenant, the request including a tenancy identifier identifying the tenancy and a user identifier identifying the user, the control module using the tenancy identifier to identify a tenancy feature set associated with the tenancy, and the control module using the user identifier to identify a user feature set associated with the user, and a web-page render module programmed to generate a collaboration web site including a site feature set including the tenancy feature set and the user feature set, the web site being sent to the user for rendering on the user's computing device.

Abstract: A computer display control system comprises an input module adapted to receive a user input corresponding to a composited desktop display where the composited desktop display displays at least two active desktops corresponding to at least two different computers. The input module is adapted to automatically determine to which of the desktops the user input corresponds.

Abstract: A social networking website allowing users to interact socially without revealing any personal information about themselves. The only information they reveal is about their virtual pets in the virtual website world. Different templates for the personalizable portion of the website can be selected, some of which are restricted.

Abstract: A system that includes a computer device and a user interface. The user interface is configured to enable a user to interact with a person using one of at least two of voice conversation, voice-video conversation, graphic text-based conversation, fax, and electronic mail. The interactions can include the following. Creating a rule to cause the computer device to automatically perform an action based on a request to converse with the user. Viewing an automatically generated listing of a set of persons, the listing comprising a name, presence information, and communication modes available for the user to communicate with the person from the set of persons. Selecting the person from the set of persons. Selecting a communication mode from the communication modes available to communicate with the person, and retrieving information about a person using an identifying characteristic of the person, where the identifying characteristic is selected by the user from a display. Communicating with the person.