Abstract: Electronic communication-based storage of content items to support multiple workflows is provided. When an attached content item is received with an electronic communication, a receiving user may select the attached content item for review and editing in an immersive view pane that may be launched adjacent to or in proximity to an electronic mail viewing pane. When the received content item is edited, a copy of the edited content item is temporarily stored with the electronic communication with which the content item was received at an associated electronic communication server. When the receiving user then desires to dispose of the edited content item, for example, by replying back to the sending user with the edited content item as an attachment, the edited content item may be retrieved from the electronic communication server automatically for attachment to the responsive communication.

Abstract: Electronic communication-based storage of content items to support multiple workflows is provided. When an attached content item is received with an electronic communication, a receiving user may select the attached content item for review and editing in an immersive view pane that may be launched adjacent to or in proximity to an electronic mail viewing pane. When the received content item is edited, a copy of the edited content item is temporarily stored with the electronic communication with which the content item was received at an associated electronic communication server. When the receiving user then desires to dispose of the edited content item, for example, by replying back to the sending user with the edited content item as an attachment, the edited content item may be retrieved from the electronic communication server automatically for attachment to the responsive communication.

Abstract: Variety of approaches to optimize performance based on behavioral and situational signals are described. A productivity service initiates operations to optimize performance upon receiving a behavioral signal and/or a situational signal associated with a user. The behavioral signal and/or the situational signal are analyzed to infer a usage pattern associated with a component of an application. Next, a failure of the usage pattern is detected in a comparison to an utility threshold. In response, the application is instructed to interrupt an execution of the component.

Abstract: Electronic communication-based storage of content items to support multiple workflows is provided. When an attached content item is received with an electronic communication, a receiving user may select the attached content item for review and editing in an immersive view pane that may be launched adjacent to or in proximity to an electronic mail viewing pane. When the received content item is edited, a copy of the edited content item is temporarily stored with the electronic communication with which the content item was received at an associated electronic communication server. When the receiving user then desires to dispose of the edited content item, for example, by replying back to the sending user with the edited content item as an attachment, the edited content item may be retrieved from the electronic communication server automatically for attachment to the responsive communication.

Abstract: Variety of approaches to optimize performance based on behavioral and situational signals are described. A productivity service initiates operations to optimize performance upon receiving a behavioral signal and/or a situational signal associated with a user. The behavioral signal and/or the situational signal are analyzed to infer a usage pattern associated with a component of an application. Next, a failure of the usage pattern is detected in a comparison to an utility threshold. In response, the application is instructed to interrupt an execution of the component.

Abstract: Electronic communication-based storage of content items to support multiple workflows is provided. When an attached content item is received with an electronic communication, a receiving user may select the attached content item for review and editing in an immersive view pane that may be launched adjacent to or in proximity to an electronic mail viewing pane. When the received content item is edited, a copy of the edited content item is temporarily stored with the electronic communication with which the content item was received at an associated electronic communication server. When the receiving user then desires to dispose of the edited content item, for example, by replying back to the sending user with the edited content item as an attachment, the edited content item may be retrieved from the electronic communication server automatically for attachment to the responsive communication.

Abstract: A server push model for client/server communications. The push architecture operates on top of a non-push (e.g., request/response) protocol (e.g., HTTP) to combine notifications from multiple data sources (e.g., email, text messaging, etc.). The server can be a middle-tier server (or proxy) to which a single web client registers interest in one or more notification types from one or more data sources. The mid-tier server aggregates the notifications from the various data sources and delivers the notifications to the requesting client via a single “push” pipe. The web client then distributes each notification to the appropriate parts of the client user interface. A producer/consumer locking mechanism eliminates blocking threads waiting on a mutual exclusion lock. A notification throttling mechanism distinguishes different types of notifications in order to guarantee that the client is not overloaded with too much information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (200) for charging energy storage devices. The method (200) can include a battery charging method in a power supply client connected by a data bus to a power supply host. The method (200) includes the steps of: detecting (210) a state of the power supply host; determining (220) a limit of current from the host to the client; allocating (230) a portion of the limit to a battery charging current; and charging (240) a battery of the client at the battery charging current such that the current from the host is greater than a recommended limit and less than or equal to the determined amount. Thus a client device can confidently charge at a rate which causes the port current to exceed a recommended limit, such as a USB port limit of 500 mA, when allowed by conditions of the host device.

Abstract: A method and a system on a vehicle for activating a pedestrian protection device that has one or more sensors coupled to a fascia of the vehicle and activates the pedestrian protection device if the signal from a sensor is greater than a minimum threshold and less than a maximum threshold. Coupling the one or more sensors to the fascia improves sensitivity for detecting a collision with a pedestrian when compared to systems that do not couple the sensors to the fascia. Comparing the sensor signal to a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold helps avoid inappropriate or ineffective deployment of the pedestrian protection device. When multiple sensors are used, the location of the pedestrian collision on the fascia may be determined.

Abstract: A server push model for client/server communications. The push architecture operates on top of a non-push (e.g., request/response) protocol (e.g., HTTP) to combine notifications from multiple data sources (e.g., email, text messaging, etc.). The server can be a middle-tier server (or proxy) to which a single web client registers interest in one or more notification types from one or more data sources. The mid-tier server aggregates the notifications from the various data sources and delivers the notifications to the requesting client via a single “push” pipe. The web client then distributes each notification to the appropriate parts of the client user interface. A producer/consumer locking mechanism eliminates blocking threads waiting on a mutual exclusion lock. A notification throttling mechanism distinguishes different types of notifications in order to guarantee that the client is not overloaded with too much information.

Abstract: A server push model for client/server communications. The push architecture operates on top of a non-push (e.g., request/response) protocol (e.g., HTTP) to combine notifications from multiple data sources (e.g., email, text messaging, etc.). The server can be a middle-tier server (or proxy) to which a single web client registers interest in one or more notification types from one or more data sources. The mid-tier server aggregates the notifications from the various data sources and delivers the notifications to the requesting client via a single “push” pipe. The web client then distributes each notification to the appropriate parts of the client user interface. A producer/consumer locking mechanism eliminates blocking threads waiting on a mutual exclusion lock. A notification throttling mechanism distinguishes different types of notifications in order to guarantee that the client is not overloaded with too much information.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques improve the updating of client content in a client/server arrangement. A client notification engine of a user interface subscribes to receive notifications from a central server side notification engine. The client notification engine polls the server side notification engine at a specified interval. The server side notification engine receives and aggregates notifications about and/or from one or more sources and aggregates them into a collection of relevant notifications. These notifications are sent to the client where the different subscriptions originated and are then used by the user interface in the client to update part of the content being displayed as appropriate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (200) for charging energy storage devices. The method (200) can include a battery charging method in a power supply client connected by a data bus to a power supply host. The method (200) includes the steps of: detecting (210) a state of the power supply host; determining (220) a limit of current from the host to the client; allocating (230) a portion of the limit to a battery charging current; and charging (240) a battery of the client at the battery charging current such that the current from the host is greater than a recommended limit and less than or equal to the determined amount. Thus a client device can confidently charge at a rate which causes the port current to exceed a recommended limit, such as a USB port limit of 500 mA, when allowed by conditions of the host device.

Abstract: Various technologies and techniques improve the updating of client content in a client/server arrangement. A client notification engine of a user interface subscribes to receive notifications from a central server side notification engine. The client notification engine polls the server side notification engine at a specified interval. The server side notification engine receives and aggregates notifications about and/or from one or more sources and aggregates them into a collection of relevant notifications. These notifications are sent to the client where the different subscriptions originated and are then used by the user interface in the client to update part of the content being displayed as appropriate.

Abstract: A virtual list view in a web application is dynamically updated such that a user can seamlessly access and manage the presented data despite the inherent latency involved with the web. Data associated with the virtual list view is downloaded in chunks and the view updated as the user scrolls. By coupling the user's scrolling and particular chunks of data to be downloaded system resources are utilized in an efficient manner. Additional user interface controls for the user interface are employed for rapid and efficient access to portions of data minimizing delay and system resource occupation.

Abstract: A method and a system on a vehicle for activating a pedestrian protection device that has one or more sensors coupled to a fascia of the vehicle and activates the pedestrian protection device if the signal from a sensor is greater than a minimum threshold and less than a maximum threshold. Coupling the one or more sensors to the fascia improves sensitivity for detecting a collision with a pedestrian when compared to systems that do not couple the sensors to the fascia. Comparing the sensor signal to a minimum threshold and a maximum threshold helps avoid inappropriate or ineffective deployment of the pedestrian protection device. When multiple sensors are used, the location of the pedestrian collision on the fascia may be determined.

Abstract: Providing a rich user experience on a network client in which personal information management (PIM) data from a plurality of data sources is aggregated and displayed to the user. An aggregation system connects to data sources and maps attributes of PIM data in the data sources to a common object model. An object of aggregated PIM data is created according to the mapped attributes. The aggregation system generates user interface data representing the created object and sends the user interface data to the network client for rendering.

Abstract: The invention concerns a light detection power system (105). The system can include a solar cell charging circuit (120) having at least one solar cell (116) in which the solar cell charging circuit can provide power to a power source (114), a lighting circuit (122) that receives power from the power source and a controller (118) coupled to the solar cell charging circuit and the lighting circuit. The controller can enable the lighting circuit when a power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit fails to reach a first predetermined threshold. The solar cell charging circuit can include a switch (130) that is controlled by the controller. The controller can further enable the switch when the power level that the controller detects from the solar cell charging circuit reaches a second predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Maintaining a plurality of application component catalogs describing user experiences associated with particular application programs. The invention includes an extensible schema for the application component catalogs and a method for matching user experiences within the application component catalogs to particular user requests. The invention provides an extensible and scalable infrastructure for customizing a user interface experience.

Abstract: The invention concerns an accessory (112) for coupling to a portable electronic device (110). The accessory includes an interface (120) for coupling to the portable electronic device, an identifier (124) in which the identifier generates at least in part a parameter and at least one speaker (128). Only if the accessory contains more than one speaker, the parameter generated at least in part by the identifier causes an audio amplifier (148) that drives one of the speakers to be activated. In addition, the parameter generated at least in part by the identifier can cause the audio amplifier to be deactivated if the accessory contains only one speaker.