Abstract: An access control system is provided to prevent the surreptitious granting of access to privacy related functionality on an electronic device. Software-based events to grant access to device functionality can be validated by confirming that the software event corresponds with a hardware input event. This validation prevents the spoofing of a user interface input that may be used to fraudulently grant access to specific functionality.

Abstract: A technique that can be implemented by the digital asset repository, and includes the steps of (1) receiving, from a first application executing on the first computing device, a request to access information associated with a second application managed by the digital asset repository, wherein the request: (i) is transmitted in response to a selection of a user interface that is displayed by the first application and that relates to the second application, and (ii) includes a set of parameters that is provided by a remote server and that specifies at least one utilization requirement pertaining to the second application; (2) receiving, from the second application, an indication that activity associated with the second application has been performed; (3) determining, based on the indication, that the at least one utilization requirement is satisfied; and (4) providing the set of parameters to a metrics manager executing on a second computing device.

Abstract: The embodiments set forth techniques for managing advertisement attributions. A first technique can be implemented by an “app store” application, and include the steps of (1) receiving, from a first user application, a request to view a second user application, where the request includes a set of digitally-signed parameters that are specific to an advertising campaign (provided by an advertisement network) for the second user application that is presented by the first user application. In turn, and in response to identifying that the second user application satisfies at least one criterion, the app store application provides the set of digitally-signed parameters to an advertisement metrics manager that: (i) verifies the set of digitally-signed parameters, and (ii) indicates, to the advertisement network, that business logic should be carried out in association with the first user application and the second user application. A second technique for managing advertisement attributions is also disclosed.

Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. A status indicator can be displayed to indicate the authorization associated with a received location service.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aggregating and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like. The user device can further display a user's wellness data in an aggregated view of different types of wellness data. Wellness data of other users can also be viewed if authorizations from those users have been received.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable medium are provided for managing user information. For example, instructions for implementing a background process configured to manage a first set of data types may be received from a service provider. A data download that includes information about the new data type may also be received from the service provider. A request to access data corresponding to the new data type may be received from an application. Additionally, in some examples, the data corresponding to the new data type may be provided to the application based at least in part on interpreting the data download.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for assigning tasks and/or providing resources in a distributed system. An indication of a task being available for processing is provided to one or more remote systems in a distributed system based on a distribution list. At least one response from one of the remote systems capable of performing the task is received in response to the indication. The response includes a request for a resource for performing the task. The resource for performing the task is provided to the remote systems.

Abstract: Private and secure autocomplete suggestions are enabled based on a user contacts database, even when an application has not been granted access to the user contacts database. A keyboard process can receive and display suggestions based on input provided via the keyboard. The suggestions are generated based on a contacts database of a user. The suggestions are generated without exposing the contacts database to the application. Suggestions are then displayed to the user without exposing the suggestions to the application. Once a suggestion is selected by a user, the selected suggestion is provided to the application for insertion into a text field.

Abstract: Private and secure autocomplete suggestions are enabled based on a user contacts database, even when an application has not been granted access to the user contacts database. A keyboard process can receive and display suggestions based on input provided via the keyboard. The suggestions are generated based on a contacts database of a user. The suggestions are generated without exposing the contacts database to the application. Suggestions are then displayed to the user without exposing the suggestions to the application. Once a suggestion is selected by a user, the selected suggestion is provided to the application for insertion into a text field.

Abstract: An access control system is provided to prevent the surreptitious granting of access to privacy related functionality on an electronic device. Software-based events to grant access to device functionality can be validated by confirming that the software event corresponds with a hardware input event. This validation prevents the spoofing of a user interface input that may be used to fraudulently grant access to specific functionality.

Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. A status indicator can be displayed to indicate the authorization associated with a received location service.

Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. The text of the authorization dialog can be customized by the application to provide more detail on how the location data will be used by the application.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to receiving and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with research entities conducting research studies, friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like.

Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. The text of the authorization dialog can be customized by the application to provide more detail on how the location data will be used by the application.

Abstract: A method and system for network-based distribution of content are disclosed. The distribution of content is not only secure but also controlled. The security restricts access to content within media files during downloads as well as while stored at a server or client. In one embodiment, each media file is encrypted with a different, randomly generated key. The control over the distribution of the media file can serve to limit the subsequent distribution of media files from clients to other clients. In another embodiment, the control can permit media files to be shared on a limited number of different clients affiliated with the same user. The clients can vary with application but generally are computing devices that have memory storage. Often, the clients are personal computers or other computing devices that are capable of storing and presenting content to their users.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aggregating and sharing wellness data. The wellness data can be received by a user device from any number of sensors external or internal to the user device, from a user manually entering the wellness data, or from other users or entities. The user device can securely store the wellness data on the user device and transmit the wellness data to be stored on a remote database. A user of the device can share some or all of the wellness data with friends, relatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, or the like. The user device can further display a user's wellness data in an aggregated view of different types of wellness data. Wellness data of other users can also be viewed if authorizations from those users have been received.

Abstract: In some implementations, a provisional determination that a user of a first device is awake may be based on data indicating that the first device is being used. Also, sleep sounds associated with a human sleeping may be detected, and sleep sound information corresponding to the user may be obtained. Next, the detected sleep sounds may be compared to the sleep sound information, and a determination may be made as to whether the detected sleep sounds are attributable to the user based on the comparison of the detected sleep sounds and the sleep sound information. In addition, the provisional determination that the user is awake may be revised to indicate that the user is sleeping in response to a determination that the detected sleep sounds are being performed by the user in order to provide a more accurate sleep determination for the user.

Abstract: An application can specify a location service authorization type to be enforced by a mobile device. After the user authorizes the location service through an authorization dialog, the application can receive location service according to the authorization type. A first authorization type allows the application to receive continuous location updates and location events from a location service on the mobile device only when the application is in use. A second authorization type allows the application to always receive continuous location updates and location events when the application is running in a foreground or background. The text of the authorization dialog can be customized by the application to provide more detail on how the location data will be used by the application.

Abstract: The embodiments set forth techniques for managing advertisement attributions. A first technique can be implemented by an “app store” application, and include the steps of (1) receiving, from a first user application, a request to view a second user application, where the request includes a set of digitally-signed parameters that are specific to an advertising campaign (provided by an advertisement network) for the second user application that is presented by the first user application. In turn, and in response to identifying that the second user application satisfies at least one criterion, the app store application provides the set of digitally-signed parameters to an advertisement metrics manager that: (i) verifies the set of digitally-signed parameters, and (ii) indicates, to the advertisement network, that business logic should be carried out in association with the first user application and the second user application. A second technique for managing advertisement attributions is also disclosed.

Abstract: In some implementations, a computing device can confirm a sleep determination for a user based on secondary indicia of user activity. For example, the computing device can be a user's primary computing device. The primary device can predict and/or determine when the user is sleeping based on the user's use (e.g., primary indicia), or lack of use, of the primary device. After the primary device determines that the user is sleeping, the primary device can confirm that the user is asleep based on secondary indicia of user activity. In some implementations, the secondary indicia can include user activity reported to the primary computing device by other secondary computing devices (e.g., a second user device, a household appliance, etc.). In some implementations, the secondary indicia can include user activity detected by sensors of the primary computing device (e.g., sound, light, movement, etc.).