Abstract: A calling routine may identify portions of a data object that may be populated by other executable routines by creating a property requested event. An event may be created for the requested property and one or more subscribing routines may launch. The subscribing routines may process separately from the calling routine and return property values, which in turn may create a property changed event, which may be subscribed to by the calling routine. The calling routine may then process the requested data. In one embodiment, a data object may be populated on a property-by-property basis by various subscribing routines, creating a sparsely populated data object that may be updated dynamically by routines identified at runtime.

Abstract: A client/server distribution system for applications, media, messages, and other items operates by distributing a list of items to client devices, then the client devices may generate a user interface that reflects the availability of the items based on the capabilities of the device and permissions of the user. The distribution system may distribute media for consumption on the clients, applications that may be executed on the server, messages for status and other purposes. Each item may have an associated application that may be launched from the user interface, and the client devices may customize the launch script or other configuration based on the characteristics of the client device and permissions of the user.

Abstract: A calling routine may identify portions of a data object that may be populated by other executable routines by creating a property requested event. An event may be created for the requested property and one or more subscribing routines may launch. The subscribing routines may process separately from the calling routine and return property values, which in turn may create a property changed event, which may be subscribed to by the calling routine. The calling routine may then process the requested data. In one embodiment, a data object may be populated on a property-by-property basis by various subscribing routines, creating a sparsely populated data object that may be updated dynamically by routines identified at runtime.

Abstract: One or more visible user interface controls from a cache can be displayed. The user interface controls can also include one or more virtualized controls and one or more partially visible controls. In response to an indication to move in a dimension, one or more displays of visible user interface control(s) can be changed, and a control can be virtualized in the cache. Also, in response to the indication to move, one or more of the user interface controls in the cache can be recycled by performing population (i.e., populating the control) with data from outside the subset of data items in the data set. Additionally, an indication to change the number of controls in the data set can be received, and in response, the number of controls in the cache can be changed.

Abstract: An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user.

Abstract: A client/server distribution system for applications, media, messages, and other items operates by distributing a list of items to client devices, then the client devices may generate a user interface that reflects the availability of the items based on the capabilities of the device and permissions of the user. The distribution system may distribute media for consumption on the clients, applications that may be executed on the server, messages for status and other purposes. Each item may have an associated application that may be launched from the user interface, and the client devices may customize the launch script or other configuration based on the characteristics of the client device and permissions of the user.

Abstract: An installation and configuration system consolidates workloads of multiple applications and services, including applications or services that may be installed or configured on multiple server devices or remotely hosted services. The system gathers environmental information, analyzes dependencies among the workloads, and populates the input data used by the workloads from a common database. The system then executes the workloads, allowing branching within the workloads or the sequence of workloads. An example of branching may include detecting an error condition, pausing the sequence, and presenting alternative fixes to a user.

Abstract: A user interface displays multiple steps in sequential relationship to each other, and may group various steps together and provide completion indicators for each step as well as an overall completion indicator. Error conditions, status information, queries, and details about a particular step or group of steps may be displayed inline with the steps in a task detail portion of the user interface. The task detail portion may be collapsible and expandable by the user. Progress and completion indicators may be updated for each step, groups of steps, and the overall sequence. In a typical use, a software installation sequence may comprise installation steps from multiple software components. The user interface may illustrate the status of individual tasks, groups of task, and the overall sequence as the tasks are performed, and enable errors to be resolved by displaying queries and other information inline with the steps.