Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatic patching of a sparsely streamed application, such as a game application. The invention enables an initial file set to be streamed to a client's network device. The file set is used to generate file segments. A patcher is then authorized to write to sections of the file segment, regardless of whether they have received portions of the streamed application. Once a section of the file segment has been written to by the patcher, that section becomes an authoritative region, which indicates that the streaming process may not write to it again. This authoritative region represents a last-known good image for that section of the file. This approach may be applied over an arbitrary number of patches, with authoritative sections growing, coalescing, or truncating as appropriate.

Abstract: A multipositional, multilevel user interface system including a keyboard over a base surface for a pointing device such as a mouse. The keyboard and base may be at a fixed angle or rotate relative to each other about a hinge axis to reveal the surface, providing a portable keyboard and pointing surface. A kickstand can support the keyboard above the base in an open position. The keyboard and pointing device can be used with two hands with the system resting in a user's lap. The keyboard can also swivel about an axis other than the hinge axis. The keyboard can swivel 180 degrees for left-handed use, and can be positioned at other detent angles for comfort. A mouse can also be stowed on the base with a magnetic, friction, or other coupling. The interface system can further include a communication interface and/or a processor to communicate with another computing device.

Abstract: A keyboard can be modified to facilitate use in a variety of applications such as, for example, gaming. Examples of modifications include, but are not limited to, placing a numeric keypad to the left of an alphanumeric keypad, having particular keys with a different color, changing the relative arrangement of keys, adding new keys, and moving functions to different sites on the keyboard.

Abstract: An article includes a pointing device having a stationary tracking component; a base; and a keyboard arrangement. The keyboard arrangement is coupled to the base and is configured and arranged to move between at least a first position and a second position. When the keyboard arrangement is in the second position, the keyboard arrangement is capable of holding the pointing device stationary and has an aperture to expose the stationary tracking component of the pointing device. The pointing device, in a first mode, provides pointer control by movement on a track surface of the base and, in a second mode, provides pointer control using the stationary tracking component.