Method and system for nonvisual groupware participant status determination in a data processing system

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for permitting nonvisual determination of groupware participant status in a data processing system. In a data processing system in which multiple users are permitted to simultaneously utilize a selected application, a selected audible signal is associated with each user. A periodic determination is then made as to which users are currently utilizing a selected application and an associated audible signal for each such user is generated within the data processing system, permitting nonvisual determination of the presence of each user within the selected application. Additionally, the location of utilization within the application by each user and/or the level of activity of each user may be utilized to selectively alter the audible signal associated with a particular user, permitting a nonvisual determination of the status of any user within the application.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.