In one embodiment, a method includes receiving data including presence data for at least one collaboration contact from a collaboration server, receiving input data from at least one input device, preparing a user interface screen for output to a display device, the user interface screen including a future presence indicator including a graphical representation disposed at least one of, around or on, at least part of an avatar of the at least one collaboration contact, the graphical representation including a plurality of sections from a circular shape, each one section of the plurality of sections having a border including a circular arc, indicating a future availability status of the at least one collaboration contact based on the presence data for the at least one collaboration contact, having an angular dimension being indicative of a time period represented by the one section.

A method for communicating in a digital conversation is implemented on a computing device and includes: receiving an interactive contextual emoji from a first digital conversation participant to post in the digital conversation with at least a second digital conversation participant, where the interactive contextual emoji is pre-defined to indicate at least a current availability status associated with the first digital conversation participant, requesting the current availability status from a status application based on at least an indication of the interactive contextual emoji, where the status application maintains the current availability status, receiving the current availability status from the status application, and displaying the interactive contextual emoji in the digital conversation with at least an indication of the current availability status.

Described is a system for guiding opinions of users of a social media network. The system determines a number of control agents to be inserted into a population of users of the social media network. The system also determines a rate at which an expressed opinion of each control agent should change over a period of time. A control strategy is output which includes a control schedule based on the number of control agents to be inserted into the population of users and the rate at which the expressed opinion of each control agent should change over the period of time. Finally, the control schedule is deployed in the social media network.

Described is a system for guiding opinions of users of a social media network. The system determines a number of control agents to be inserted into a population of users of the social media network. The system also determines a rate at which an expressed opinion of each control agent should change over a period of time. A control strategy is output which includes a control schedule based on the number of control agents to be inserted into the population of users and the rate at which the expressed opinion of each control agent should change over the period of time. Finally, the control schedule is deployed in the social media network.

Example methods and apparatus for enabling voice communications via a messaging application are described. One example method includes providing a conversation user interface in the messaging application, where the conversation user interface includes communication records between a contact and a user. Voice information of the user is received after the user triggers a record button, where the record button appears in the conversation user interface. A voice note related to the voice information is presented in the form of the communication records on the conversation user interface. The voice note is played in response to selecting the voice note by the user. The voice note is paused from playing in response to a first instruction from the user to pause playing the voice note, and is resumed playing in response to a second instruction from the user to resume playing the voice note.

Example methods and apparatus for enabling voice communications via a messaging application are described. One example method includes providing a conversation user interface in the messaging application, where the conversation user interface includes communication records between a contact and a user. Voice information of the user is received after the user triggers a record button, where the record button appears in the conversation user interface. A voice note related to the voice information is presented in the form of the communication records on the conversation user interface. The voice note is played in response to selecting the voice note by the user. The voice note is paused from playing in response to a first instruction from the user to pause playing the voice note, and is resumed playing in response to a second instruction from the user to resume playing the voice note.

An information processing apparatus includes a first communications connector configured to implement first data communications connection between a first transmission terminal specified by first identification information and a second transmission terminal specified by second identification information when authentication of the first transmission terminal is established, an identification information acquisition part configured to acquire third identification information and fourth identification information by referring to correspondence information registering the third identification information in association with the first identification information, and the fourth identification information in association with the second identification information when acquiring a second data communications connecting request including the first identification information and the second identification information from the first transmission terminal, and a connection request part configured to transmit the second data communications connecting request together with the third identification information and the fourth identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition part to another information processing apparatus.

An information processing apparatus includes a first communications connector configured to implement first data communications connection between a first transmission terminal specified by first identification information and a second transmission terminal specified by second identification information when authentication of the first transmission terminal is established, an identification information acquisition part configured to acquire third identification information and fourth identification information by referring to correspondence information registering the third identification information in association with the first identification information, and the fourth identification information in association with the second identification information when acquiring a second data communications connecting request including the first identification information and the second identification information from the first transmission terminal, and a connection request part configured to transmit the second data communications connecting request together with the third identification information and the fourth identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition part to another information processing apparatus.

A portable electronic device for instant messaging is disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a graphical user interface (GUI) on a portable electronic device with a touch screen display. The GUI has a set of messages exchanged between a user of the device and another person. The set of messages are displayed in a chronological order. In response to detecting a scrolling gesture comprising a substantially vertical movement of a user contact with the touch screen display, the display of messages are scrolled in accordance with a direction of the scrolling gesture. The detecting of the scrolling gesture is substantially independent of a horizontal position of the user contact with the touch screen display.

A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a synthesis engine having a controller, and a storage medium for storing instructions to be executed by the controller. The instructions, when executed by the controller, can cause the controller to retrieve collected information associated with a behavior of an individual, synthesize from the information a measure of a mood of the individual to interact with others, and transmit the measure to a system associated with the individual to manage requests between the individual and the entity. The measure of the mood of the individual can indicate an availability of the individual and a receptiveness of the individual to accept a request to interact with an entity. The measure can be described by a plurality of dimensions. Other embodiments are disclosed.