Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for monitoring contextual and performance information of a device for anticipatorily sending update information to the device. An interface component can receive, from the client, contextual information indicating an operating environment of the client and performance information that is associated with one or more operations being performed by the client based on the operating environment, and send, based on correlation information, update information to the client. Further, a service component can to infer a relationship between the contextual information and the performance information to obtain the correlation information. In other embodiments, a client can populate a cache with portion(s) of the contextual information to obtain cached information, and send at least a portion of the cached information to a system including one or more aspects of the service component.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for monitoring contextual and performance information of a device for anticipatorily sending update information to the device. An interface component can receive, from the client, contextual information indicating an operating environment of the client and performance information that is associated with one or more operations being performed by the client based on the operating environment, and send, based on correlation information, update information to the client. Further, a service component can to infer a relationship between the contextual information and the performance information to obtain the correlation information. In other embodiments, a client can populate a cache with portion(s) of the contextual information to obtain cached information, and send at least a portion of the cached information to a system including one or more aspects of the service component.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for monitoring contextual and performance information of a device for anticipatorily sending update information to the device. An interface component can receive, from the client, contextual information indicating an operating environment of the client and performance information that is associated with one or more operations being performed by the client based on the operating environment, and send, based on correlation information, update information to the client. Further, a service component can to infer a relationship between the contextual information and the performance information to obtain the correlation information. In other embodiments, a client can populate a cache with portion(s) of the contextual information to obtain cached information, and send at least a portion of the cached information to a system including one or more aspects of the service component.

Abstract: Data management techniques are provided for handling information resources. A data management process can account for attributes of information resources by analyzing or interpreting the workspace location, source, channel and device associated with an information resource, and effectuating policies, based on the attributes. Rules govern the attribute determination and policies for access restriction to the information resource. The attributes and policies determined are tagged to the information resource and is dynamically updated based on the attributes related to the information resource within different workspaces, such as a corporate workspace and a personal workspace.

Abstract: A software distribution mechanism evaluates network addresses of requesting clients to determine a location for each client. The clients from a particular location are grouped together and a fraction of those clients in a particular group are recipients of a software distribution. The faction is adjusted to enable more or fewer clients to download, thus effectively throttling the amount of bandwidth consumed by a mass distribution event. The fraction may be adjusted for particular geographical locations and the time of day to make more effective use of network bandwidth.

Abstract: The subject disclosure relates to techniques for monitoring contextual and performance information of a device for anticipatorily sending update information to the device. An interface component can receive, from the client, contextual information indicating an operating environment of the client and performance information that is associated with one or more operations being performed by the client based on the operating environment, and send, based on correlation information, update information to the client. Further, a service component can to infer a relationship between the contextual information and the performance information to obtain the correlation information. In other embodiments, a client can populate a cache with portion(s) of the contextual information to obtain cached information, and send at least a portion of the cached information to a system including one or more aspects of the service component.

Abstract: Data management techniques are provided for handling information resources. A data management process can account for attributes of information resources by analyzing or interpreting the workspace location, source, channel and device associated with an information resource, and effectuating policies, based on the attributes. Rules govern the attribute determination and policies for access restriction to the information resource. The attributes and policies determined are tagged to the information resource and is dynamically updated based on the attributes related to the information resource within different workspaces, such as a corporate workspace and a personal workspace.

Abstract: Regulatory compliance techniques are provided for dynamically modifying access to data based on the jurisdiction a user seeking access to the data is located within. Dynamically modifying access to data provides for a more efficient and accurate solution to regulatory compliance issues faced when hosting data in a central repository. Users can be notified when their access to data is modified due to a compliance issue. In addition, an audit history can be associated with data packets that allow an administrator or the like to view the history of data packet access. Finally, signatures associated with a data packet can be used to search data store(s) to track access to information within the data packet that may have been subsequently modified.

Abstract: A hierarchical software update distribution system and method for distributing software updates is presented. The update distribution system includes a root update service node and at least one update service node. In an update distribution system, each update service node, except the root update service node, has one parent update service node. Each update service node may function as a parent update service node to child update service nodes.

Abstract: A software distribution mechanism evaluates network addresses of requesting clients to determine a location for each client. The clients from a particular location are grouped together and a fraction of those clients in a particular group are recipients of a software distribution. The faction is adjusted to enable more or fewer clients to download, thus effectively throttling the amount of bandwidth consumed by a mass distribution event. The fraction may be adjusted for particular geographical locations and the time of day to make more effective use of network bandwidth.

Abstract: Performing software installation activities. A method may be practiced for example in a network computing environment including one or more targetable entities organized into target groups. The method includes beginning a rollout including installation activities to a first set of one or more target groups. At least a portion of the installation activities are evaluated in the first set of one or more target groups. A rollout, including installation activities, to a second set of one or more target groups is begun if the installation activities in the first set of one or more target groups meet predetermined criteria.

Abstract: Sending installation information. A method may be performed, for example, in a network computing environment including one or more servers connected to one or more clients. The method includes signing a package including installation information. A hash of the package is created. A metadata data set is created. The metadata data set includes a description of the package, an identification for the package, applicability rules describing intended recipients of the installation information, the hash of the package, and installation instructions for the package. The metadata data set is sent to a target group of systems in the network computing environment.

Abstract: Context-aware computing systems and methods are described. In particular embodiments, location aware systems and methods are described. In the described embodiments, hierarchical tree structures are utilized to ascertain a device context or location. The tree structures can be stored on or accessible to mobile computing devices so that the devices can determine their own particular context or location. A computing device can automatically determine its context or location by ascertaining a node on one or more of the tree structures and then traversing the tree structure to ascertain the complete context.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for providing electronic support and assistance from a server to a client are disclosed. An agent residing on the client monitors events requiring support, such as faults and error messages. When an event requiring support occurs, the client agent collects data associated with the event, formulates a message, and transmits the message to the server. The server applies the event data to support vector machines that classify the data into categories and produce probability scores for each category. Category probability scores that exceed a threshold value cause the server to formulate and transmit a response containing category-specific resolution information to the client. When no matching categories are identified, the response so indicates. After receiving the response, the client automatically provides support to resolve the event.

Abstract: Distributed caching and download of file. A method is described that includes building a peer list comprising a listing of potential peer servers from among one or more networked computers. The peer list includes no more than a predetermined number of potential peer servers. Potential peer servers in the peer list are queried for a file or portion of a file. A message from a peer server in the peer list is received indicating that the peer server has the file or portion of a file available for download. The computer system downloads the file or portion of a file from the peer server.

Abstract: Example embodiments allow a local network client to access information about a shared gateway to determine its actual amount of bandwidth consumption. The client can also obtain the total capacity of such shared gateway. Using its knowledge of its own bandwidth consumption, it can determine the other local network clients' usage of the shared gateway. With all of this information, i.e., total capacity of the shared gateway, the actual usage of the shared gateway, and the usage by other clients within the local network, the client can adjust or throttle background file transfers in order to keep the actual data transfers across the shared gateway within a reasonable percentage of the total capacity available. That is, a client will give priority to other local network computing machines' usage of the shared gateway by adjusting data transfers for its own background transfer system based on usage across a shared gateway.

Abstract: Context-aware and location-aware cellular phones and methods are described. In one embodiment, cellular phones are configured to wirelessly receive information that pertains to their current context or location. The phones then automatically use the information to modify one or more cellular phone behaviors, e.g. by turning the phone off, changing the ringer's pitch, or placing the phone in a vibrate mode. In one particular embodiment, various location types are defined and have associated attributes that define a desired cellular phone behavior. One or more transmitters at a location for which a behavior is desired transmit information that pertains to the location's class type. The cell phones can carry an association of class types and their behaviors so that when the phones receive the class type information, they can automatically adjust their behavior.

Abstract: A method for controlling the update installation behavior of a computing device according to installation attributes is presented. When present, a mandatory installation attribute associated with a software update causes the installation process executed on the computing device to disallow a user to selectively not install the software update. A priority installation attribute causes the computing device to request a higher amount of network bandwidth for obtaining the software update's content for installation on the client computing device. A deadline installation attribute associated with the software update causes the computing device to permit a user to selectively not install the software update until an associated deadline passes, at which time the software update is installed without further user interaction.

Abstract: In a domain containing one of many computing devices, the computing device transmits a query and receives back a response from one or more neighbor-casting groups in the domain each including one or more of the computing devices. Predetermined criteria are applied by the computing device to select one of the groups to which it is joined as a group member. The predetermined criteria can be the number of computing devices in the selected group, a length of time between the query and the response from the selected group, or a combination of thereof. When the selected group has few computing devices, the computing device can send a query and receive back a response from one or more groups. By applying criteria similar to the predetermined criteria, the computing device can select one other group, remove itself from its current group, and join the other selected group.

Abstract: A system and method by which content, such as a software update, is downloaded in a controlled manner to clients so as to reduce peak demands, by modulating the number of clients that can request (e.g., automatically) to download content. To this end, before any download is requested, each client receives information that the client uses to determine whether to request the content now, or back off and retry the download process later. In one implementation, the information is provided via a download regulation file, comprising acceptance percentage and time window parameters that are occasionally varied based on current network load-related statistics. Clients generate a random number that is evaluated against the acceptance percentage (probability threshold) to determine whether to download or back off. The time window specifies how long downloading clients are allowed to download, or how long backed-off clients need to wait before restarting the regulated download process.