Red Hat, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Bryan William Clark

Colin G Walters

Donald Francis Fischer

Havoc Pennington

Owen Taylor

Seth Aaron Nickell

Marina Zhurakhinskaya

Robert Sanford Havoc Pennington

Havoc Penington

Mike Langlie

William Kress Bodin

Derral Charles Thorson

Steven I Ross

David Patrick Huff

Michael S Karasick

John Patterson

Li-Te Cheng

Susanne Hupfer

Wojciech T Stryjewski

John Richard Del Pizzo, Jr

Bastien Nocera

Donald Fisher

Albert Chung-Chee Kwok

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for tracking local and remote file usage, and aggregating the resulting file usage statistics for presentation to a user. The operating system of a local computer can cause presentation of a merged list of unified file usage information, wherein the merged list of unified file usage information comprises a first representation of the local file associated with local file usage information and a second representation of a Web application file associated with remote file usage information from a remote network host. The operating system can further receive a selection of at least one of the local file or the Web application file from the merged list of unified file usage information, determine, using saved preference information, a default application with which to open the at least one of the local file or the Web application file, and, responsive to a request, open the at least one of the local file or the Web application file with an application other than the default application.

Generating file usage information

Embodiments relate to systems and methods for tracking local and remote file usage, and aggregating the resulting file usage statistics for presentation to a user. The operating system of a local computer can track and generate local file usage statistics, such as most recently used files and editing time. A Web application or service, such as an email or word processing application or service, can record the file usage data for a user's remote stored or served files. A file usage aggregator module, which can be located or resident in the operating system of the local computer or hosted at a Web site, can receive and combine the local and remote file usage statistics. The file usage aggregator module can generate a display of the aggregated file usage statistics, so that local and remote files are listed in a most-recently used order, on a combined basis.

Embodiments relate to tracking local and remote file usage, and aggregating the resulting file usage statistics for presentation to a user. The operating system of a computer can track and generate local file usage statistics, such as most recently used files and editing time. A Web application or service, such as an email or word processing application or service, can record the file usage data for a user's remote stored or served files. A file usage aggregator module, which can be located for resident in the operating system of the local computer or hosted at a Web site, can receive and combine the local and remote file usage statistics. The file usage aggregator module can generate a display of the aggregated file usage statistics, so that local and remote files are listed in a most-recently used order, on a combined basis.

Discussion of content between users of social networks is described. A request from a first user to discuss content with a recipient user in a first social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a first identifier in the first social network. A request from a second user to discuss content with the recipient user in a second social network is received, wherein the recipient user has a second identifier in the second social network. A discussion is initiated between the second user and the recipient user about the content in the second social network. The recipient user is tracked in view of the first identifier in the first social network and the second identifier in the second social network.

Granting access in view of identifier in network

Embodiments of the present invention provide an automated scheme for identifying high/low value content. Playback data from users in a social network may be periodically submitted by users of the social network. The playback data indicates segments of content, such as audio or video that the user has skipped over or tagged as low value. The playback data may also indicate segments of content that the user has repeated or tagged as high value. The playback data is then analyzed in aggregate and various clips are identified. In addition, the playback data may be compiled and organized among the users for future use. The playback data may be used to indicate segments of high/low interest to peers in the social network or to arbitrary users.

Evaluation of content based on user activities

Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism for automatically creating a playlist for a user. In particular, data indicating music played by other users in the user's social network is collected. Music is then selected from this data and gathered from a music service in which the user subscribes, such as iTunes, Yahoo Music, etc. The service then builds the playlist with the gathered music.

Playlist generation of content gathered from multiple sources

Embodiments of the present invention provide a simple, bi-directional control that allows the user to express one of two opposing opinion on a particular item and make a comment. For example, the user may be provided a bi-direction widget that indicates whether a user loves or hates a particular subject.

Bi-directional widget for recording user feedback

An embodiment relates generally to a method of displaying information. The method includes monitoring any user activity within at least one application executing on a computer and detecting a completion of a user activity. The method also includes creating a link to the completed user activity and placing in the link in a time-ordered sequential basis in a journal section of a desktop of the computer.

Storing a journal of local and remote interactions

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems that allow users to share information about their recent activities with other users. In particular, as users receive and/or share multimedia content with other users, information that indicates the locations of this content, such as a website, playlist, or file, is passively tracked and logged. This information may be formatted into a viewable form, such as a web site or web log, and cooperatively shared with other users. Users may then incorporate the multimedia content played by other users into their own library. Users may also elect to synchronize their multimedia content with other users. For convenience, multiple locations for the same multimedia content may be determined when it is logged and tracked. Users may obtain the multimedia content using one or more of their existing accounts with a provider at their own discretion.

Shared playlist management for open overlay for social networks and online services

An embodiment relates generally to a method of filtering for a browser. The method includes providing a browser with a browser history function, the browser history function configured to store each site web page visited and stored in time sequential order as a browser history. The method also includes providing a filter module for the browser; and applying the filter module to the browser history function to eliminate intermediary web pages from entering the browser history.

Filter module for a browser history

Embodiments of the present invention provide a search tool that allows users to efficiently retrieve or locate a desired object on their computer. Users specify their search based on a time criteria. In addition, the search tool may provide its results in a temporal context to assist the user in browsing through the results.

Searching desktop objects in view of time based statistics

Embodiments of the present invention allow a user to master the music played among a social network. Users of the social network subscribe to the master's session and synchronize their media player under control of the master. The master then distributes various selections of music and controls their playback. The master may also add other data, such as voice over or images, to accompany the playback.

Mastering music played among a plurality of users

A method and computer system including launching a dialog window for two users to communicate with one another via respective client devices relating to a particular subject. A search query is received from an additional user including a keyword associated with the particular subject. In response to the request, a backlog of a recent discussion between the two users relating to the particular subject is retrieved and provided to the additional user, wherein the backlog includes a suggested link relating to the recent discussion.

Enabling users searching for common subject matter on a computer network to communicate with one another

A processor executing a password manager randomly selects a first requirement and a second requirement for creating a password from a set of requirements, wherein the second requirement is selected independently of the first requirement. The processor provides the first requirement for creating the password, receives characters for the password, determines whether the characters satisfy the first requirement, and provides information that indicates whether the characters satisfy the first requirement. Responsive to the characters satisfying the first requirement, the processor provides the second requirement for creating the password.

Strong password entry

A method and program for preventing an interrupting action in a computer resource for a full-screen mode or presentation mode of a user application are disclosed. Such a method includes: detecting, for example by a window manager, that a user application is entering into full-screen mode in a display space of the computer resource; transmitting to a target module, for example via a message bus, a mode message indicating that the full-screen mode is being entered; and preventing the interrupting action by the target module. The interrupting action may be a display action in a display space associated with the computer resource. The target module may be an instant messaging application, a screen saver application, a calendar application, a power management application, or a voice communication application.

Growing community of inventors

Westford, MA, United States of America

Bryan William Clark