International Business Machines Corporation

David Allen Schell

David Bruce Lection

Abbott Purdy Brush, Ii

Todd L Leyba

Sarah D Redpath

Thyra Lynne Rauch

Rabindranath Dutta

Sandeep Kishan Singhal

Karen Ruth Kluttz

Kevin Spencer Barker

Don Rutledge Day

John L Scanlon

Donald Robert Wood

Kevin Baker Sizer

Beth Taylor Smith

Annmarie O'Donnell

Christopher Arnell Gage

The invention is a method and apparatus for automatically opening files of particular types in a computer application program using certain attributes, such as window size and position, as dictated by user preferences based on the user's previous habits in opening files of the same type in that particular computer application program or based on properties of the file itself.

Method and apparatus for learning computer interface attributes

Disclosed is a method, system, and program for searching a data repository managed by a content provider to gather indexable metadata on content at addresses locations at the data repository. Settings capable of being customized by the content provider are accessed. The customized settings provide instructions on how to search the content provider's data repository. The content of content pages at the content provider's data repository is accessed in accordance with instructions included in the accessed customized settings. Metadata from accessed content pages is generated and added to an index of metadata for accessed addressable locations at the data repository.

Method, system, and program for gathering indexable metadata on content at a data repository

A method and apparatus for selecting objects in a virtual world through the use of inner and outer selection ranges. Inner selection ranges define the distance from an object an avatar must be to trigger a selection event to initiate interaction with the object. Outer selection ranges define the distance from an object an avatar may travel before triggering a de-selection event to the object which terminates interaction with the object. The method and apparatus is defined for implementation in virtual objects or virtual world frameworks.

Selection by proximity with inner and outer sensitivity ranges

Methods, systems and computer program products are provided which transport a user in a virtual reality environment from a first location to a second location by providing a transportation vehicle that receives the user at the first location, receiving a destination signal from the user which indicates the second location as a destination, transporting the user in the transportation vehicle to the second location independent of any user input, and providing customized information to the user when the user is in the transportation vehicle. The transportation may be inter-world or intra-world. The customized information can take any number of forms such as dynamic visual scenery, audio messages, static visual graphics, video images, or any combination thereof.

Methods systems and computer program products for transporting users in three dimensional virtual reality worlds using transportation vehicles

A technique, system, and computer program for providing a visually oriented, easily navigable search facility. Templates containing field names and possible default values are stored for each available task for this user, preferably in a memory cache or disk cache. When the user enters a value or pattern into a field of the search criteria, this value or pattern is retained. When a subsequent search is requested, the retained values are checked to determine if the user already entered values for any fields of the now-current template. If so, then those values are automatically filled in for this current template. The user is allowed to override any of the filled-in values, and these overrides will also become retained values. Retained values are cleared when the user exits the search facility, or when the user explicitly requests to clear the values.

Visually oriented, easily navigable search facility

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided for retrieving documents from multiple document servers into a single client session. Search criteria may be entered within one or more search fields displayed within a search template. Each search field is mapped to respective data fields within various document servers to be searched. When a query is entered by a user into a selected search template, records within document servers that contain data fields mapped to each search field are searched for data matching the entered search criteria. A list of documents having an associated record containing data matching the entered search criteria is displayed within the search template. Upon selection of a displayed record, a document associated with a selected record is displayed within a viewer within the client session.

Systems, methods and computer program products for retrieving documents

A method for displaying information in a virtual reality environment in which an object that is displayed within a viewport into the virtual reality environment is selected so that the contents of the object can be displayed. The object is opened and the contents of the object are automatically oriented to be perpendicular to a line of sight of the viewport.

Method for displaying information in a virtual reality environment

A method and apparatus for encasing one or more virtual objects in a container for delivery in a virtual world. The container can be opened by automatic time-out, simple manual opening or security-enforced manual opening. The container can hide all or part of the virtual objects, filter events to or from the objects, present advertising information, group multiple objects and enforce access security checkpoints.

Delivery of objects in a virtual world using a descriptive container

A technique for alerting users to the existence of an interactive station within a virtual world accessible via the World Wide Web and determining whether the user is authorized to access the interactive station. An indicator is provided within the virtual world which shows to users the location and existence of an interactive station of the virtual world. The user selects the interactive station indicator in order to attempt to gain access to the interactive station. The virtual world may then verify whether the user is authorized to access the interactive station. Further, if the user is authorized to access the interactive station, the virtual world may maintain access to user data during the user's visit to the interactive station and modify the users data in accordance with the users activities therein. Also, the virtual world may use data provided by the user to perform functions in accordance with the users activities during the user's access to the interactive station.

Interactive station indicator and user qualifier for virtual worlds

A plurality of users in a virtual reality environment are registered over a network to share information. A three dimensional representation of information to be shared over the network is placed into a shared area of the virtual reality environment. The information is then transferred to all of the registered users. The registered users may be listed on a whiteboard visible to all in the environment. The information to be shared may be placed onto a conference table metaphor to indicate it is available for all registered users.

Method and system for sharing information in a virtual reality world

Methods, systems and program products are provided which provide dynamic status to a user during the busy cycle of a processing system. The status information may be provided by displaying information to a user of a computer system during performance of an application program on the computer system by formatting the busy cursor to provide dynamic information which is unrelated to the application program in the computer system to the user during the display of the busy cursor. The dynamic information to be displayed to the user may be obtained from a source other than the application program on the computer system. The obtained dynamic information would then be used to format the busy cursor to provide the dynamic information to the user. Multiple information sources may also be utilized and the information display prioritized by a user.

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Durham, NC, United States of America

David Allen Schell