Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the use and exchange of customized third-party content in a distributed computing environment that allows for third-party hosting. Embodiments of the disclosed technology concern an application store within an application (e.g., an “in-app app store”). The application store can offer downloadable digital content and/or roaming entitlements to a user of the application. Further, in particular embodiments, the downloadable content and/or entitlements are generated by a third party (e.g., a party different than the provider/publisher of the application and the user of the application). Also disclosed are methods and mechanisms for copy-protecting such content.

Abstract: A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the use and exchange of customized third-party content in a distributed computing environment that allows for third-party hosting. Embodiments of the disclosed technology concern an application store within an application (e.g., an “in-app app store”). The application store can offer downloadable digital content and/or roaming entitlements to a user of the application. Further, in particular embodiments, the downloadable content and/or entitlements are generated by a third party (e.g., a party different than the provider/publisher of the application and the user of the application). Also disclosed are methods and mechanisms for copy-protecting such content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the use and exchange of customized third-party content in a distributed computing environment that allows for third-party hosting. Embodiments of the disclosed technology concern an application store within an application (e.g., an “in-app app store”). The application store can offer downloadable digital content and/or roaming entitlements to a user of the application. Further, in particular embodiments, the downloadable content and/or entitlements are generated by a third party (e.g., a party different than the provider/publisher of the application and the user of the application). Also disclosed are methods and mechanisms for copy-protecting such content.

Abstract: A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested.

Abstract: A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the use and exchange of customized third-party content in a distributed computing environment that allows for third-party hosting. Embodiments of the disclosed technology concern an application store within an application (e.g., an “in-app app store”). The application store can offer downloadable digital content and/or roaming entitlements to a user of the application. Further, in particular embodiments, the downloadable content and/or entitlements are generated by a third party (e.g., a party different than the provider/publisher of the application and the user of the application). Also disclosed are methods and mechanisms for copy-protecting such content.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems for facilitating the use and exchange of customized third-party content in a distributed computing environment that allows for third-party hosting. Embodiments of the disclosed technology concern an application store within an application (e.g., an “in-app app store”). The application store can offer downloadable digital content and/or roaming entitlements to a user of the application. Further, in particular embodiments, the downloadable content and/or entitlements are generated by a third party (e.g., a party different than the provider/publisher of the application and the user of the application). Also disclosed are methods and mechanisms for copy-protecting such content.

Abstract: A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested.

Abstract: A cloud manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. A build system creates deployment-ready virtual hard disks (VHDs) that are installed on machines that are spread across one or more networks in farms that each may include different configurations. The build system is configured to build VHDs of differing configurations that depend on a role of the virtual machine (VM) for which the VHD will be used. The build system uses the VHDs to create virtual machines (VMs) in both test and production environments for the online service. The cloud manager system automatically provisions machines with the created virtual hard disks (VHDs). Identical VHDs can be installed directly on the machines that have already been tested.

Abstract: An online service includes managed databases that include one or more tenants (e.g. customers, users). A multi-tenant database may be split between two or more databases while the database being split continues processing requests. For example, web servers continue to request operations on the database while content is being moved. After moving the content, tenant traffic is automatically redirected to the database that contains the tenant's content.

Abstract: A cloud manager assists in deploying and managing networks for an online service. The cloud manager system receives requests to perform operations relating to configuring, updating and performing tasks in networks that are used in providing the online service. The management of the assets may comprise deploying machines, updating machines, removing machines, performing configuration changes on servers, Virtual Machines (VMs), as well as performing other tasks relating to the management. The cloud manager is configured to receive requests through an idempotent and asynchronous application programming interface (API) that can not rely on a reliable network.

Abstract: A training set for a post-filter classifier is created from the output of a face detector. The face detector can be a Viola Jones face detector. Face detectors produce false positives and true positives. The regions in the training set are labeled so that false positives are labeled negative and true positives are labeled positive. The labeled training set is used to train a post-filter classifier. The post-filter classifier can be an SVM (Support Vector Machine). The trained face detection classifier is placed at the end of a face detection pipeline comprising a face detector, one or more feature extractors and the trained post-filter classifier. The post-filter reduces the number of false positives in the face detector output while keeping the number of true positives almost unchanged using features different from the Haar features used by the face detector.

Abstract: A cloud manager assists in deploying and managing networks for an online service. The cloud manager system receives requests to perform operations relating to configuring, updating and performing tasks in networks that are used in providing the online service. The management of the assets may comprise deploying machines, updating machines, removing machines, performing configuration changes on servers, Virtual Machines (VMs), as well as performing other tasks relating to the management. The cloud manager is configured to receive requests through an idempotent and asynchronous application programming interface (API) that can not rely on a reliable network.

Abstract: A machine manager controls the deployment and management of machines for an online service. The machine manager is configured to manually/automatically deploy farms, upgrade farms, add machines, remove machines, start machines, stop machines, and the like. The machine manager keeps track of the locations of the machines, the roles of the machines within the networks, as well as other characteristics relating to the machines (e.g. health of the machines). Instead of upgrading software on the machines in a farm that are currently handling requests, one or more machines are configured in a new farm with the selected disk images and then the requests are moved from the old farm to the new farm.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques that enable a subscriber of a data center to manage a site collection group hosted by the data center. A site collection group is a set of site collections that belong to a single subscriber. A site collection is a collection of websites. A website is a collection of related resources. Each of the site collections is associated with an “owner”. As described herein, the data center presents management interfaces that enable owners of site collections to manage the site collections. In addition, the data center presents management interfaces that enable subscribers to manage architectural aspects of their site collection groups.

Abstract: Techniques for implementing a guessing threshold for a game challenge are described. In at least some embodiments, a guessing threshold can specify a number of “guesses” that a player is permitted to make during a particular period of time. For example, a guess can be an incorrect solution to a game challenge, a correct solution to a game challenge that was previously provided during a game session, an incorrect solution to a game challenge that is not a legitimate solution attempt, and so on. In implementations, if a player exceeds the guessing threshold during a particular period of time, the player can be warned and/or penalized. For example, the player can be locked out of gameplay for a penalty period and/or the player can be docked a number of points.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium are provided for storing files in an official file repository. According to the method, a generic interface is exposed that includes a first method for requesting that a file be stored in a file vault. A record series is maintained that identifies one or more document types that may be stored in the file vault along with a location for each file type within the file vault where files of the type should be stored. A call may be made to the first method including the file to be stored in the file vault. In response to the call, a location for storing the file in the file vault may be identified based on the contents of the record series. Once the location has been identified, the file is stored in the identified location if the file type is in the record series. If the file type is not in the record series or the necessary property values are not received with the call, the file is placed in a holding zone portion of the file vault.

Abstract: A content user experience is described. In one or more implementations, a user interface is displayed that has selectable representations of content sources, at least one of which is available via a network. Responsive to selection of one or more of the content sources via the user interface, representations of content are displayed in the user interface using metadata obtained from the selected one or more content sources, the representations arranged according to a hierarchy used at a respective content source to arrange access to the content. Responsive to selection of one or more of the representations via the user interface; the content is obtained that corresponds to the selected representations and the obtained content is displayed in the user interface.

Abstract: A machine manager controls the deployment and management of machines (physical and virtual) for an online service. Multi-tier server groups are arranged in farms that each may include different configurations. For example, their may be content farms, federated services farms and SQL farms that are arranged to perform operations for the online service. When the multiple farms are upgraded, new farms are deployed and the associated content databases from the old farms are moved to the newly deployed farms. During the upgrade of the farms, requests may continue to be processed by the farms. The farms may be automatically load balanced during an upgrade. As content becomes available on the new farm, requests for the content may be automatically redirected to the new farm.