Abstract: Systems and methods for assisting user interaction with physical objects. A system may include an interactive display surface configured to display visual output and receive a physical object, where the object possesses encoded data including data other than data directly identifying the object. The system may include a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the surface computer to implement software applications. In response to the display surface receiving the object, the surface computer may be configured to read the encoded data passively with respect to the object, without using an active electronic interface between the surface computer and the object, and to display a user interface for software applications dependent upon the passively read encoded data, such that one or more elements of the user interface are visually associated on the interactive display surface with the physical object.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for return processing, including tax returns. A return calculation mechanism may partition out return preparation jobs to a plurality of return calculation nodes. A job scheduler may receive returns and distribute the returns among the calculation nodes according to a load-balancing scheme. The job scheduler may decompose a return into two or more calculation jobs. A job may be an individual return or portion of a return. In one embodiment, the calculation jobs may be prioritized according to dependency. If one job depends on results of another job, the job may be scheduled to execute after the job on which it depends. The calculation nodes may cache calculated data from jobs, and a job that depends on another job may be assigned to a node that caches data from the job on which it depends.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating user interaction with physical documents. A system may include a physical document interface configured to receive a physical document having a surface including document data items, such that at least a portion of the surface of the physical document is visible to a user. The system further includes a device including a computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the device to implement an application, which may be executable to display a user interface including application data items, each of which may be selectable via the user interface. In response to the selection of a given application data item via the user interface, the device is configured to cause the physical document interface to visibly indicate a location on the surface of the physical document, where the location includes a document data item corresponding to the application data item selected via the user interface.

Abstract: A web service includes a web service manager for servicing an originating message received from an originating client application, wherein the originating message has verification information a data package having an encrypted portion. The web service manager verifies that the originating message originated from an authorized originating client application, using the verification information. An identifier generator creates a data package identifier associated with the data package and a location within a data package store used for storing the data package. A message generator generates a notification message which is sent to a receiving computing system. Upon receipt of at least a portion of the notification message from the receiving computing system, the web service manager retrieves the data package from the data package store and initiates transfer the data package to the receiving computing system.