International Business Machines Corporation

Peter Y Hsu

Jimmy Ming-Der Hsu

Keith R Walker

Yen-Fu Chen

Richard Edmond Berry

John Hans Handy-Bosma

Mei Yang Selvage

Alan Richard Tannenbaum

Anthony Christopher Courtney Temple

Craig Henry Becker

Scott Anthony Morgan

David John Clark

William W Lawton

Jimmy M Hsu

Anthony C Courtney Temple

Yuan-Rong Lu

Previously conducted conversations in real-time collaboration messages are persistently stored, either by client or a server, and then are associated with conversational items presented to a user (e.g. contact names, topics, etc.). An icon is provided near each listed item, which when selected, displays to the user summaries or titles of all transcripts to which the selected item pertains or relates. The user may select one or more summaries or titles for which the conversation is to be resumed, causing the system to retrieve the stored transcript and resume appending new conversational entries to it, so that the user recovers conversational context effortlessly and accurately. Enhanced versions of the invention include sharing of transcripts so that all participants receive the context of the conversation, and server-side or client-side implementations.

Conversation persistence in real-time collaboration system

A deformable cap for a computer pointing device is provided that may be particularly useful for miniature joystick-type pointing devices such as the TrackPoin&#x2122; and ScrollPoint&#x2122; devices manufactured by the IBM corporation of Armonk, N.Y. When an operator places a fingertip on the cap, the cap deforms thereby advantageously increasing the surface area of contact between the cap and the fingertip. All embodiments of the cap are placed on an upper portion of a control stick of the pointing device. A first embodiment of the cap includes a bottom support, a disc, a plurality of wire supports, and an elastic cover that overlays the disc and wire supports. An inner surface of the cover may be scored to ensure repeatable deformation of the cap. A spring may be attached to a lower surface of the disc to assist the cap in regaining its original shape once the operator's fingertip is removed. A second embodiment of the cap includes a bottom support, a plurality of wire supports, and an elastic cover overlaying the wire supports. An inner surface of the cover may be scored. The cap may be hollow or may be filled with a deformable material. A third embodiment of the cap includes a bottom support and an elastic cover in which an inner surface of the cover may be scored. The cap may be hollow or may be filled with a deformable material.

Deformable cap for a computer pointing device

A system and associated method for synchronizing a record with a web document. A synchronizer selects a web document that is stored in a published web document repository of a content management system. The oldest web document since the latest update is selected and checked for availability. The synchronizer locates a record that corresponds to the selected web document. The synchronizer then checks respective version of the web document and the record to determine whether the record correctly represents the web document. The synchronizer then verifies whether the selected web document is available to users to avoid synchronizing latent web document that is not available to users. The synchronizer updates the located record.

System and method for synchronizing data record with web document in a content management system

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for leasing a unique digital item in a network data processing system. A listing request is received for a payment and a deposit in the account of a first party. A listing request is received for a unique digital item in the account of a second party. Responsive to receiving the listing requests, the respective digital properties are transferred to a temporary storage account in association with retrieval tags. Listings for the digital properties appear on a trusted third-party leasing service. A lease contract is drawn up between the parties. After all parties have signed the lease agreement, the payment is transferred to the second party and the unique digital item is transferred to the first party. The deposit is held by the trusted third-party leasing service until the unique digital item is returned.

Method and apparatus for temporary ownership of digital items in a network data processing system

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for transferring a unique digital item between a first party and a destination party in a network data processing system. A request to transfer a unique digital item in an account of the first party is received. Responsive to receiving the request, a retrieval tag is associated with the unique digital item. The retrieval tag is generated by a server process, such as one on which the unique digital item is located. The unique digital item is transferred from the source account to a temporary storage account in association with the retrieval tag. The unique digital item is listed on a trusted third-party server. A second party may inspect the unique digital item and agree to exchange something in return for the first party's listed unique digital item. The transfer occurs after all parties have committed to the transaction. Responsive to a redemption request initiated by the trusted third-party, the unique digital item is transferred from the temporary storage account to an account of the second party.

Method and apparatus for trading digital items in a network data processing system

A stored transcript of a first conversation thread has beginning and ending points with a series of messages in between. A continuation point is inserted between two messages within the first thread, and an storaae indicator is displayed proximate to an entry for the first thread in a hierarchical list of stored conversations; When the indicator is operated, the transcript is retrieved, a portion of the first thread is copied in into a second user interface, the copied oortion being defined by two points selected from a the beginning point, the continuation point, and the ending point. Newly authored and received messages are aooended in the second user interface to the copied portion of the first thread, such that a second thread of conversation is provided having the copied portion of the first thread with the copied portion refreshing the user of a context of said first conversation thread.

An alarm system and method by which a user can be alerted to a detected condition regarding their vehicle, can view what is happening in and around the vehicle, and can remotely turn off or reset the alarm if it is determined that an alarm is false. This is provided using one or more cameras and a cellular telephone to which the pictures can be sent.

Method and system for accessing and viewing images of a vehicle interior

Disclosed is a system, method, program, and electronic storage media for providing at least one content area of information and n different sized navigation areas. There are n addressable locations for each content area. Each of the n addressable locations for one content area comprises the same content area with a different sized navigation area. Further, each of the n navigation areas includes at least one link to another addressable location with the same content area and a different sized navigation area.

Method, system, and program for providing pages of information with navigation and content areas

A method, means, and device for controlling the amount of light penetration through a viewing port and, more particularly, a new and improved method of controlling one or more pane such that the one or more pane varies the degree of energy reflection and absorption of a single viewing port.

Method means and device for limiting the light penetration through one or more pane in a single viewing port

A padded wrist rest that is integral with a portable electronic device, meaning that the wrist rest is sold with the device and does not have to be removed from the device to close and store the device, is disclosed. While integral to the portable electronic device, the wrist rest of the present invention can be removed by the user or owner of the portable electronic device for maintenance or replacement. The wrist rest may be single- or multiple-part, and includes one or more pads manufactured from encapsulated gel, closed-cell foam, fabric-covered padding, vinyl-covered padding, or leather-covered padding. The wrist rest may include one or more bases that are slid, screwed, or snapped into place on the portable electronic device.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Peter Y Hsu